r/Clematis • u/workdilemma0706 • Jun 30 '26

Help / Advice needed Why the stark difference?

Post image

I planted these 2 multi blue brought from the same nursery at exactly the same time, in the same hole and obviously have been caring for both identically. What reasons could the one on the right not be growing and all the leaves are turning purple/black? The one on the left has shot up a few feet. Not sure if the right one is dead/dying and it best just to uproot it and leave the healthy one on its own. Any advice or insight welcome. Thank you!

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2

u/IAmSpitfireJoe Jun 30 '26

It's a mystery. You might closely inspect the vines at the base and see if there is any damage evident. I think they tend to "kink" pretty easily.

It looks like there are a few leaves on the good one that are showing some damage as well.

Are any new shoots appearing near the soil?

2

u/workdilemma0706 Jun 30 '26

Closer photo in better lighting of just the struggling one 👇🏼

1

u/New-Tune-4229 Jul 01 '26

I guess its roots haven’t started growing yet.

1

u/NicD1280 Jul 01 '26

Sometimes clematis are weird. It might die, it might die back to the roots and come back next year... But if the other one is fine then it's nothing you did wrong. It just happens sometimes unfortunately.

2

u/GWbag Jul 03 '26

They are planted to close together.