What's eating my clematis 'warszawska nike'?

Clematis 'Warszawska Nike' is a robust deep-violet cultivar pruned hard each year, leaving soft spring growth vulnerable. Aphids are the primary pest; slugs and snails attack at the crown before stems harden. Earwigs occasionally damage the large blooms at night. Overall it is a tough, low-maintenance plant with manageable pest pressure.

Dense colonies on young shoot tips; sticky deposits and leaf distortion Hose off; spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil; encourage natural predators in the garden

Ragged holes in young leaves and stems near soil level in spring; slime trails present Iron phosphate slug pellets, gritty crown mulch, and regular night-time checks

Irregular notches in petals and upper foliage, visible in the morning Straw-filled flower-pot traps on canes; empty and dispose of earwigs each day