No flowers on Clematis.

I have had 2 Clematis for two years now one either side of a Garden Arch..they have reached each other no but not a sinlge Flower nor Bud to be seen   I have not over fed them..have kept them watered when it was dry weather..one is Ernest Markham and the other another popular one (slipped memory now but similar flowering period) anyone any ideas why it hasn't flowered? I bought it from a good Garden centre. Thank-you for any help..Hi,Alina

Watermelonice. 

Hi, Watermelonice

How are you pruning them? You can treat Ernest Markham as either a group 2 (light pruning) or 3 (cut back hard). Whichever you're using, it might be worth trying the alternative.

The other possible cause is the very dull weather - Ernest Markham's main flush of flowers is in the late summer (it can flower from June to October), so it may just be a bit late this year.

You say you haven't overfed - I'd try getting clematis food (Chempack do one, for example) and switching to that if you're not already using it. It is possible that your clematis are getting too much nitrogen, hence the excess of leaves - when you look at the NPK values, the N value should be about half of the K to get the balance right.

I agree with the feeding recommendation.  I use potato fertilizer on all my clematis which do really well - just checked that and the N:P:K ratio is 4:2:7.  This mixed lot have an Ernest Markham in and underplanted with foxgloves to shade the roots:

Bob, what is the name of the dark purpley red ones you have in that picture ? I have a similar one from a previous garden but never knew the name of it.

(eta: is it Niobe ?)

Hi Blueberry, I think the one you mean is Ville de Lyon.  The blue ones are General Sikorski.  The pale pink one with stripes (which is mostly hidden by leaves) is Bees Jubilee which has almost finished flowering and Ernest Markham is in there somewhere as well as the early Helsingborg which finished a few weeks ago.  There is supposed to be a Miss Bateman, too, but I think that popped its clogs over the winter!  I want a white in there, so trying to propagate from my Duchess of Edinburgh which is on another fence.

What a lovely display Bob TheGardener!

You don't say what aspect they are. I had 2 - Warszawska Nike and Etoille Violette growing up either side of a shrub. The Nike always flowered well on the south facing side of the shrub, while Violette didn't flower at all. Last year I lost the shrub after 2 severe winters, so put up a wigwam and grew them up that. Violette is now flowering equally well and has been so since May. Photo attached

Thank-you all so much Alina, I have done everything right re: feed,nitrogen etc but have really not given up hope now that you tell me late flowering (no Summer) ..Bob: Ville de Lyon is the other one that I have climbing up the other side of the arch, in the past I have been delighted with both of these Clems. but not growing up the Arch ...and Querus,,I have two Warsaw Nike and I cannot recommend them enough they are wonderful!! never let me down and just keep on flowering..Thank-you all again,X

Watermelonice.

 Hi Watermelonice,

This is my Niobe after a shower of rain. Hope it helps to identify yours.

I bought a Niobe from Morrisons some years ago. When it flowered it was pale pink. Very nice but not what I was hoping for Yours looks lovely especially with the rain on it

Bob, thank you for the reply but I think mine matches the Niobe. You do have a lovely mixture there.

Kathy, that is mine I think, a very deep claret. I need to do some cuttings as the one I have is hanging on by a thread.