Is this it for my Clematis???

[caspercat]

Planted it late last year in a brand new garden (clay soil). Was doing really well but never flowered. Cut it back over winter, and until 4 wks ago it had come back brilliantly - growing quickly with loads of buds. Unfortunately, we went away during the hottest week of the year so far, & when we came back it had all wilted & turned brown . I've cut it back again & watered it daily (for 2 wks), but no sign of anything back yet. The roots are under gravel & another plant, which is what i believe you're meant to do (& also means it'll be bloody difficult to pull up & start again).
Any ideas?? Should i just give up, or can they come back??
TIA, am a complete novice at this (but v keen)!

it may be clematis wilt, look it up. don't give up though, may revive next year.

I agree with fishie - mine occasionally does virtually nothing one year but suprises me the next. Don't give up yet!

Hm - well - I have had a clematis (large flower kind) which did brilliantly in the soring and then wilted and turned brown just as cc describes.

Each year it sprang back into life and I was thrilled, and then at the same point it would do it again.

I gave up in the end

Don't give up on it - ours looked crap for the first couple of years and often went like this. Just leave it and plant another one of a different variety nearby. If the first one revives, you'll have two intertwined which looks nice.

Hmmm - very interesting. Think i'll do what snowleopard suggests & plant another one nearby, seems like the easiest solution....

Ive just planted one in a pot...is it going to be a huge disappointment?

Clematis are very hardy in my opinion. I have some in our back yard planted by the people before us. I have done nothing to it and I mean nothing and it produces glorious flowers every year!

I had one which gave occasional spurts of life in the garden for 3 yrs then did the sad wilt act.
I potted it, one year long it sulked, then I redid the top-soil and put it on the balcony and not only is it now 6 ft high, it has buds. Can't remember what sort it was as it never flowered before. They are oddly resilient.