I just planted 'Sweet Summer Love'. Do any of you have it, and what are the pros and cons? Any photos? (none in clematis data base) I planted it beside a fence that's only 4 ft. tall... hoping it will grow horizontally!

I don't have it but will enjoy seeing your photos. Train it horizontally if that's what you want. Simple dental floss can do it.

I don't have it either.
Here is a picture until you can can your own.
http://www.clematis.hull.ac.uk...

Still have two others to plant.

I planted this clematis last August, and it grew but did not bloom. I cut it back to about one foot from the base of the plant in the late fall, early winter. It started to show growth in late March, and has grown steadily up to about 4 to 5 feet since then, but has not yet bloomed. Here is a picture of the vine.

I will post a picture again once it begins to bloom.

gray - it may not be a variety that allows you to cut it back to a foot tall and still get flowers. what pruning category does it belong to?

Do you see buds forming?

Mine only grew about 3' tall last summer, didn't flower and then didn't make it through the winter here in zone 5. May try it again. It sure is pretty.

graycrna4u said:I planted this clematis last August, and it grew but did not bloom. I cut it back to about one foot from the base of the plant in the late fall, early winter. It started to show growth in late March, and has grown steadily up to about 4 to 5 feet since then, but has not yet bloomed. Here is a picture of the vine.

I will post a picture again once it begins to bloom.

It looks like it will be gorgeous when it blooms.Love how it is growing up the stairs.
What zone are you in?

Training it up the stair rail is a great idea! but what happens if you take a nasty spill down the stairs??? do you grab onto the rail in hopes of saving yourself while taking a chance on destroying your clematis, or do you topple to the bottom and hope for the best???

INteresting questions. It is a group 3 prune which means trim it back in the early spring (March) to about a foot from the ground. The growth has started this year and is much faster than last year. From what I have read, it takes 2 to 3 growth seasons to see blooms. I am anxiously awaiting this spring. I will post pictures.

Can't wait!

riverman123 said:Training it up the stair rail is a great idea! but what happens if you take a nasty spill down the stairs??? do you grab onto the rail in hopes of saving yourself while taking a chance on destroying your clematis, or do you topple to the bottom and hope for the best???

clearly, you must grab the rail on the other side or topple to the bottom and hope for the best

looking forward to you blooms!

Oh, a timely year old thread revived!
I just bought this one a couple of days ago and found the same info, it can take a couple of years to bloom. Not sure if I want to wait that long! I may exchange it.

Mine bloomed lightly the second summer. Will post how it looks this year when it blooms.

Reviving the thread again. I don't have pics yet, but I just saw the first bloom bud opened yesterday. It has many bloom buds this spring. Will post pics soon.

Due to the cool weather we have had here in NJ. I am having my early bloomers and my late bloomers all blooming at the same time. The one Advant Garde I planted next to the Rose of Sharon, has taken over that tree. It blooms first and then the Rose of Sharon.

Wasn't Avant Garde the one you worried about a year or two ago?

Yes it took me 3 years after getting the plugs, to get them to a good size. I lost one. But I still have 2.
I will have to take a picture of how it is over taking it.