Clematis, Late Large-flowered Clematis 'Ville de Lyon'

This has performed well for me for over a decade.

Blackened crispy leaves are often due to a common fungal disease called ...Read Moreclematis wilt. Large-flowered clematis are more prone to clematis wilt than the species and small-flowered hybrids. http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/you...

Clematis and tomatoes are two exceptions to the usual rule, and are best planted 6 inches deeper than the soil level in the pot. This protects the stem bases from mechanical damage, and helps prevent clematis wilt, whose fungus enters where there's damage. It also helps keep the roots cool.

Many small-flowered hybrids are spectacular in flower, and long-blooming. I consider them indispensable, especially the viticella hybrids. I've given up planting large-flowered hybrids, except for 'Jackmannii', which seems to be somewhat wilt resistant.

Group III clematis

This is one of two of my best clematis. I have been growing 'Ville de Lyon' for the past nine to ten years. I always cut it back every ...Read Morespring very hard! I cut it down to 12" to 24" inches. I always am rewarded with a profuse of vines and flowers in June. This vine takes over the corner of my wrought iron fence!

I try to add amendments like humus and manure or a fertilizer every month depending on month of the season. Right now, I will top dress the roots with commercial humus and manure to replace any dirt that has eroded away during the winter! During the summer, I usually use bone meal or blood meal alternating monthly. I have noticed that it flowers better for me when I feed it on a regular basis.

I tried to make sure that it is watered welled especially during the summer time! I have noticed that the in late July or August that the bottom portion of this vine tends to brown and wilt. Usually, it seems to coordinate when I am not vigilant about watering it! Due to it age, I have noticed that the root system is very close to the top of the soil and has an extensive root system that has a wide spread!

I cut mine nearly to the ground in early spring, which produced a profusion of growth and flowers - so much so that the trellis was leani...Read Moreng from the weight of the plant.

This clematis blooms reliably in Level Green, PA, which is east of Pittsburgh