In article ,
bnd777 wrote:
This is very common with Clematis
Niobe has a very fragile stem system too
Mine does the same thing

Not just clematis. A good many woody plants will behave herbaceously,
and often regrow from very deep roots, if their tops are killed.
Other examples are Passiflora caerulea, P. incarnata (but not usually
in the UK), Zauschneria californica, several roses used as rootstocks
(which is a REAL pain) and so on.

A few clematis (notably alpina) can be cut right down to the ground,
as a form of routine pruning, and will be perfectly happy.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.