I found 6 baby clems hiding in the grass...yippy! The Princess Di and sweet autumn were growing in pots so the babies would be from them two. I get so excited when I find free clems!

Will they be like their parents?

I found quite a few last year and made the mistake of digging them right away and potting them up. Next time I'll wait a year.

Arlene, yes, I've lost some too -- these were lots bigger and was in the grass so I think they were there for some months.
I have a couple that are starting their second year.

Hurray! I'm always thrilled when someone succeeds and I was sure I could get mine to survive but I was wrong.

Arlene,
You are my 'clem guru'; I've read many of you posts and adored the photos!
I've killed several 'Belle of Woking' - Sam's box and I just lost my Omoshiro!
I think the babies are surviving in spite of me...

Thanks, Betsy, but I am not a clematis guru. I've just killed enough to know what it takes to get them off to a good start and keep them going. I'd say planting deeply would be the most important aspect but my first 18 were planted at ground level and they all survived.

Belle of Woking is nice and yet so pale that it might take more than one or two to make a splash. I do like it with Multi Blue.



Sorry about the Omoshiro! I'd hate to lose any of mine.

As long as those babies are doing well, I wouldn't challenge anything you're doing because it's clear you must be doing everything right.

Speaking of Sam's and some big box stores - long ago I bought a package of five white clematises (only because they were there, not that I wanted five - no less five white ones, but you know how it is when we spot what we think is a bargain). Four were Duchess of Edinburgh and one was montana grandiflora. They were not labeled so it was just good luck that I happened to plant the montana where it could fill a fence in a short time.



Experience is a great teacher!

Two weeks ago I found another clematis growing where I hadn't planted any so I'm leaving it alone this time! It had to be there last year (maybe two years) due to the length of the stem.

Got 3 more from the lawn...and the one I placed in the bed back in December is growing very fast now... it's doing much better than the ones I potted up.
Pirl, the Duchess of E are so pretty - haven't seen any of these at Sam's; but I did get 3 Nelly M from Wal-M and will surprise my 2 friends with them for their birthdays.

Nelly loves to self layer to tell your friends about it when you give them the clematises.

Arlene, what do you mean "self layer" ; not sure what you mean... help update my clem knowledge bank

Sometimes when a stem is lying on the ground it simply roots itself with no help from humans.

Tomorrow should be a nice afternoon so I'll try and find an example to show you through photos.

Oh, OK, yes, I do know what you are talking about- I have tried to self-layer other plants - roses, jasmine - but not clematis.

It's easy to do on purpose with clematises and the younger growth is nice and supple, making it even easier.

Select a stem, scratch (very lightly) at one node, bury the node into moist soil, cover with a brick/rock/stone. You should have a new plant in a few months. I leave them in place until the following spring to help establish good roots but some people move them sooner than that.

the layering method works good for me also.

Great! Success is a great feeling.

I have to try that!

Just an update - to my six - found couple more; The larger ones are from last year. I am doing my best to keep these babies growing. Hoping the three empty-looking pots will send up new growth...

Who has gotten seedlings to grow to blooming stage? Any advice to offer me? Did they look like their parent?

No advice to give you, sorry, but I have found many more. Seems Nelly Moser must have ideal seeds to germinate here so easily.

I have yet to find any. It should be interesting to see how they look compared to the parents.