Dorset,
United Kingdom 
Hello again! I wonder if someone coul give me some advice about a Clematis Freckles. We bought and planted it last Autumn. It was supposed to be winter flowering. It shot up the 6ft pergola post. It did not flower, we just thought it was putting all it's strength in the climbing. However parts of it look really weedy now. One or two shoots died back - I pulled them off. The rest just look miserable. What to do?!
22 Mar, 2012
Answers
I bought one late last summer but it has not flowered this spring. However I will persevere for a year or two as I have seen some lovely ones in other people's gardens!
It might be an idea to try a dressing of lime or add some chalk to the soil--I heard a gardener recommend this because the wild clematis does best on the chalk slopes of the South Downs. Worth a try, perhaps.
22 Mar, 2012
That's interesting, the chalk downs thing - we're on neutral to slightly acidic clay here, maybe that's why they don't do well.
22 Mar, 2012
I have one but it was at least 4yrs before it flowered, its huge now and the best place to view it is from my bedroom window whereby I`m looking down on the flowers...
22 Mar, 2012
Might have suffered a bit from water shortage at various times, but to be honest, as far as I'm concerned, I dislike this plant - it always looks weedy, as if its not quite got going,and the flowering isn't that great either. I planted several a few years ago - not a one left now, couldn't stand such miserable looking things. But others on here seem to grow them and like them. Hopefully someone else might tell you how they achieve a nice looking plant.
22 Mar, 2012