clematis

My plant which I've had for years and has never bloomed very much now has a multitude of tiny flowers all over it. What did I do? What didn't I do? Anyone know why it would do this?

Are clematis slow to take off and bloom? I have no clue, but that would be my first guess, that they take awhile to establish themselves. Otherwise, it could be that it just likes the natural conditions that have occurred this year, without any human interference or assistance.

It might be sweet autumn clematis which blooms around now.

It normally has large white flowers, these were tiny and very, very numerous!

I was just in Rockport, MA and saw some full-bloom purple clematis. Also, here in New Jersey, purple clematis. Mine was done by July. Just wondering why.

There are a many, many cultivars of clematis. Some bloom throughout the summer. Some in late summer. Some in spring and late summer/early fall. Some seem difficult, some easy.

townteacher said:
My plant which I've had for years and has never bloomed very much now has a multitude of tiny flowers all over it. What did I do? What didn't I do? Anyone know why it would do this?

The cultivar that is blooming locally with tiny white flowers (that are also fragrant?) is "Sweet Autumn Clematis."

I believe they bloom on new growth, so your plant, if left unpruned, may have hardened off with woody, non blooming stems over the years. If you, or a landscaper, cut* the plant inadvertently (or on purpose), it would have sent out new growth during July and August that is in bloom now in the SOMA area.

townteacher said:
It normally has large white flowers, these were tiny and very, very numerous!

Perhaps there was another clematis cultivar planted with it that was also cut*, but has not rebounded? It's not uncommon to plant two clematis together since they each have a fairly short blooming season. The problem with this is that there are three pruning schedules among the various cultivars that are different enough that one pruning schedule will promote blooms in one cultivar and will suppress blooming in another. (Imagine not pruning a plant that blooms on old wood paired with a plant that only blooms on new growth - how to prune the intertwined cultivars for best blooms?)

*Now, when I say, "cut," it could also have been damaged during the winter.

No, I planted it years ago. It dies back every winter. It comes back each spring. It has always had big blossoms, in the spring, sometimes into the summer, but not a lot. Now for the first time it has these abundant teeny white flowers. ???? Not concerned, just curious.

BTW, I've never pruned it since it dies back then returns.

There are three types of Clematis, each of which has different pruning requirements. You need to know which species or cultivar you have to identify proper pruning.