In article , Tumbleweed thisaccountnever
writes

Resisted the urge to buy a clematis and have it die within a few months this
time. Seems new clematis just wont take in my garden wherever planted.

What happens to them? I have the same problem, and in my case the cause
is slugs - they chew though stems lowish down, so the whole stem wilts,
and they take new growth as soon as it appears. So the overall effect is
apparently mysterious death of healthy plant.

I've found 1) it's just about possible to get them established if you
grow them in a pot for a few years until you have woody main stems 2)
they are remarkably resilient, and if you dig the roots up and plant in
a pot, the thing will come up again. I've just retrieved one that I last
saw in the garden 3 years ago.
--
Kay
"Do not insult the crocodile until you have crossed the river"