Question
This summer i have planted 2 new clementis plants
they are Montanas, they where doing very well, until last week, when one of them started to wilt very badly, almost over night. On close inspection i noticed a discolouring on the leaves, a purple like bruised colour. Today i have noticed the same is happening to the other clementis. I have sprayed with a good fungiside and that has not helped at all. Do you have any ideas please...

Answer
Hi Trisha

This is a very common problem with the large flowered Clematis. It is a fungus disease called Clematis Wilt. The purple like bruised colour is the identifying symptom in combination with the wilting very quickly. As for a cure...there is none. All you can do is cut out the dead stuff (it almost never will kill the root) and it will come back. If in doubt, just cut it to ground level and it will come back. It may never get it again or it may get it every year. It is one of those diseases that no one is quite sure why some get it and some don't. You can have two Clematis side by side and one may get it and the other may be spared. If you go to google.com and type in "clematis wilt" you should get some good sites with more info. Hope this helps.   JOHN