Clematis Montana - Wakey wakey

I bought a Montana end of last year, it had leaves and had two branches coming out of the main trunk with leaves. About 400mm each.
I put it in the ground against my shed in the hope it will climb the wires I've provided and cover it. The shed is mostly in shade but if the plant could get a bit of height, it'll see the sun, especially in the summer months. I've had Petunias in hanging baskets there the past few years and they've been happy enough.

After planting this Montana it seemed okay for a week or so and then it started to sulk and drop its leaves a lot sooner than my trees and Virginia Creeper did for Autumn.
The ground is clay with the odd chunk of chalk and it did get a lot of water, probably too much at the time.

It's shown no signs of life since it dropped its leaves. My trees are now covered in blossom and the Virginia Creeper is certainly showing many leaf buds. The Montana appears dead and twiggy. They are bendy and not brittle with flaky but still very attached bark (if you can call it that).

I'm in the south of England the weather has been getting quite a bit warmer recently, aside from the rain.

Could this Montana suddenly spring into life again?
Is it too early to expect it do anything yet?
Is the shade preventing it from noticing it's Spring yet?

 

Yes Brind, I agree with Woo. Clematis can look very dead for some time. So give it a chance. My C. Montana 'Mayleen' is very happy on clay as well.

 

I planted one last summer - on clay, in semi shade and left it scramble up through a (thirsty) willow. It's now starting to show buds - like the others have said, this winter has been long and plants seem to be delayed by a few weeks.

 

Hmmm! It's all down to wait and see.
Its been a horrible winter but most of my clematis are springing into life now so if you don't see anything in the next few days (have a really good look) it's probably dead.
I hope your clematis will be OK.

 

Clematis Wilt?
No expert here but I had a Montana which just wilted , keeled over and died in full flower.
I think that's the usual symptoms of wilt but I might be wrong.
I don't think it's the usual reason for a plant not taking off in the spring.But no expert here,so check it out.

 

I've just been out to check my Clematis Montana and it's covered in new growth, leaves and flower buds...

 

Mine too !


I also bought 2 new ones a few weeks ago and so far they are looking good too.

 

When it was planted (in clay as you say say) I hope that:

a) It wasn't put into a hole that where the rain didn't drain away. Roots would have rotted if left standing in water

b) it was planted 2 - 4" below the depth of the pot. Protects the buds for new growth from below and helps against Wilt.

Montana is extremely tough so, I like all the others, expect it to be fine.

On planting and at the beginning of the first year the stems should be cut back to about 18"

 

Hmmm, I planted mine last year, late Spring and didn't prune it at all. It's in quite a boggy area of the garden, but like I said earlier, it has to compete with a thirsty willow (and the neighbour's leylandii hedge on the other side), so perhaps that compensates...

It covered severalof the willow branches last year already, heading for sunlight...

 

We have two, one was viciously attacked by some ex-neighbours last year, we were worried it was a goner but it's springing back tolife now thankfully. Though the damage that was done will take years to get back to how it was :(

 

Mine to in Yorkshire is bursting into life.

 

Thanks for the replies!
It's really not looking too good but I will keep and eye on it.

I kept the snow off the base of the plant but it has certainly had a lot of rain on it. I've not watered it, it's always been damp because of its location and grotty winter.
If it doesn't come back to life, it could well have drowned.

It was such a baby plant but it had a big pot and contained many roots.
I planted it very late in the year too, but that's also when I bought it, so I figured it was safe to assume it could be put into the ground? I can't remember exactly when but it wasn't long before Autumn was taking its toll.

If it has been overly watered, is there any likelyhood it'll grow again? or will the roots have been totally ruined?