I planted a silver lace vine last summer at which time it was flowering. So far this spring, it hasn't started leafing out. I would have thought that there should be some sign of life by now. Am I right to be concerned or is it too earlier to panic yet?
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It's too early to panic over any plant right now. Some just take longer to get going. I was told to always wait, and wait some more before pulling anything out thinking it's dead. That worked for me when I replanted a rose bush and the thing looked deader than ever the next spring until it finally sprung back to life in July. So I guess in plants that haven't been in the ground a couple of years, they can spend some time getting their roots going the second year (or longer... one of my neighbours found it took 3 years for her virginia creeper to take off. Basically she had already planted around it thinking it was a goner and now it's huge).
DANGER
I had silver lace vine once. It ended up in my cedar trees, in my garage, in the neighbors yard. It is VERY VERY Aggressive and grows like 6' a day when conditions are ideal.
I suggest you cut if off at the ground as this will keep the plant smaller and one years growth is easily manageable in the right location. It will spout up and start growing very quickly.
I don't know why they sell this plant as it is borderline dangerous.
I suggest Virginia Creeper in place of silver lace or even American Bittersweet - both can be aggressive too if not kept cut back in the spring.
A very well behaved vine is Five-Leaf Akebia or any Clematis.
All the best and watch out!
L