Comments on: Clematis Wilt

By: Andrew Bunting

Andrew Bunting — Tue, 15 May 2012 18:13:23 +0000

Sandie,

It sounds like you do in fact have Clematis Wilt. Clematis Wilt is unpredictable and does not necessarily repeat on the same plant year to year. The best thing to do is to cut it to the ground and remove the infected tissue. It will resprout, but will most likely not re-flower this year.

Andrew Bunting, Curator

By: Carol Keller

Carol Keller — Tue, 15 May 2012 17:38:10 +0000

My plant is at least 3 years old and growing but the leaves are turning yellow can you help me?

By: Sandie 58

Sandie 58 — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 12:42:32 +0000

I have a potted General Sikorski clematis which was looking really healthy and putting out lots of green foliage and buds. Normally doesn’t flower until a bit later but like other plants, was growing earlier because of the nice weather and I must admit I didn’t prune much this year. (Does say only to prune lightly in spring). Now the top section of growth has gone soft and flopped over. I keep cutting the floppy bits off in the hope that the rest will be ok and still flower. Some of the leaves are going a bit crispy but not as the description of clematis wilt. Perhaps I am just in early stages? Hasn’t done this before and I have been watering well. Seems such a shame to have to cut it all back as I won’t get the flowering in May. Does say it should flower all summer but it doesn’t. If I cut it back now more radically, will I get a later flowering this year?

By: Andrew Bunting

Andrew Bunting — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 20:36:28 +0000

The best thing to do is cut it to the ground and it may re-sprout a little this year, but next year it may come up and be absolutely fine.

Andrew Bunting, Curator

By: clematis rebecca

clematis rebecca — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 20:18:21 +0000

my clematis rebecca has flowered well ,but now has gone brown and looks very sick ! what can I do ?

By: Becky Robert

Becky Robert — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:17:08 +0000

In reply to creid. You are correct. Macro and petala do imply that C. macropetala is a large flowered clematis. As species clematis, it does have a larger bloom than other species clematis. The clematis most susceptible to wilt are the large flowered hybrids, not the species clematis, which all have smaller blooms than the hybrids.

By: creid

creid — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:20:49 +0000

Hmmm… you say “plant small-flowered species like…C. macropetala….”

I thought “macro” meant big and “petala”meant petal, referring to large-flowered clematis. I thought the macropetalas were most commonly infected with these fungal diseases.

Please enlighten.

By: Becky Robert

Becky Robert — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 18:03:30 +0000

After pruning disease plants, some references recommend fertilizing and watering your plants well. To prevent return of the disease be sure to sanitize your tools after each cut. Do not compost the infected growth as that will not destroy the fungus.

As preventive measures, sight your plant in an appropriate place and be sure it remains well watered. Avoid creating stress for the plant. Some references recommend a systemic fungicide to be applied in late spring. These treats seem unnecessary because the disease does not cause death of your plant and will re-sprout after removal of infected growth. Once the plant is well established it will out grow the disease.

To avoid the disease all together plant small flowering cultivars, which are resistant.

By: Peter Hickman

Peter Hickman — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 15:26:13 +0000

Great information for this time of year, when newly planted Clematis are starting to flower. Are there any fungicides that homeowners can apply to prevent this disease or that needed to be applied to prevent reinfection after the diseased tissue has properly pruned off the plant?