winter flowering clematis
By Jillf
United States 
My winter flowering clematis (species unknown bought at a car boot sale) has always grown and flowered really well but this year it has lost all it's leaves on the horizontal shoots. Can anyone suggest what's happening? I thought I would wait until it has flowered then cut it back hard.
21 Oct, 2008
Previous question
Some winter flowering clematis go into a summer dormancy. This is because they hail from areas with hot, dry summers so it is their defence against these conditions. As autumn progresses, you should see it spring back into growth.
Pruning after flowering is the correct time to do it because it is next year's growth that will carry flowers the following winter
21 Oct, 2008