It's old and it's common, but you just can't hardly beat Jackmani.
Linda C

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:256191}}

Haku Ookan, one of my favorites. Blooms semi-double on second year growth, single later on.
A......

Here is a link that might be useful: Haku Ookan

Not too aggressive? I like Blue Boy.

{{gwi:256193}}

The picture of Blue Boy looks like Multi Blue to me. (Which is a very good one.) I like jackmanii Superba better than Jackmanii. The Venosa Violacea just hasn't taken off for you. It's one of my strongest bloomers. The viticellas are the easiest to grow, IMHO

Also look at Polish Spirit and Warsaw Nike.

Ooh! Ahh! Thank you, everyone! Some nice choices here. I started to google some of these, and came across a website called Clematis Container Nursery, which has a really neat encyclopedia where you can look, among other criteria, by color. On one hand, it's great... on the other, too many choices, lol!

Off to do some more surfing. Thank you!
:)
Dee

I think Polish Spirit might be too aggressive. I have dozens of clematis and PS is by far the most vigorous.

Of all the ones mentioned here I think Jacmanii is the best choice. either superba or regular.

If you want to go with white, Huldine is a great rose companion. I have it on my climing William Baffin.

What about timing? Do you want them to bloom together or you just looking at a clematis "trellis"?

Hakookan died for me. :-(

I agree that blue boy looks like Multi-Blue.

Group 3's are generally less fussy and more robust.

The President is another solid performer for me. But not dark purple.

Yes, wendy, I realized after posting that I hadn't considered bloom time. However, Zephirine Drouhin is a continous bloomer (so they say), so I'm even thinking of perhaps two clematis - an early bloomer and a later one, although I did notice that a few suggestions are long-season bloomers. Thanks for your input. Very helpful.

Has anyone had any experience with Kacper? I think I'm doomed since I found this website, lol.

:)
Dee

Here is a link that might be useful: Kacper

Hi Dee, I have Clematis 'Anna Louse' planted with my Zephirine Drouhin. She's a group 2 unfortunately so I do get a bit of wilt midseason after blooming. Later she perks back up to rebloom a bit. I would prefer a group 3, but I couldn't resist the color combination.

{{gwi:256194}}

That's beautiful. THe way the pink stripe plays off the rose, reminds me of possibly a pink and white clematis like Carnaby et als, but that might be too matchy matchy.

I can't think of any bi-color group 3's. maybe there are some.

This is another good search site. I just put in purple/Group 3 and got tons. There are some interesting group 3's that might work. Their pic of jackmanii superba has the pink stripe in the center.

clematis on the web picture search

And of course the trouble with these comprehensive search engines is not falling in love with ones that are not readily available.

Dee, do not expect ZD to be a perpetual bloomer in our climate and especialy in part-sun aspect.
First flash in late May -early June and SOME reblooms in August-September would be much more realistic expectation.
Having that in mind you may plant almost any large-flowering clematis and it will NOT bloom at the same time as ZD.
Multi-Blue is doing exceptionaly well for me in part-sun aspect while President and Jackmanii were not truly happy in it, but thriving in almost full sun.
And I second Wendy's endorsement of Huldine as a great and easy to grow white.

As usual, Monique, just gorgeous! What a beautiful combination. And obviously they bloom together. I'm assuming this is in late spring? Does the Anna Louise bloom later also?

Hmm, I see my link doesn't go to Kacper. It seems to pop up with a different clematis every time you hit the link. Darn...

Thanks for that link, Wendy. I'm almost afraid to click on it, lol.

Thanks for that further info George. If I can find a clematis that has a long bloom, like the jackmani, I won't mind so much that Zeffy doesn't bloom all season. As long as I have *something* in bloom!

Okay, another quick question, if you all don't mind. Should I put something on both sides of the arbor? Will the rose and the clematis on one side either look funny or be too much weight on one side? And if you vote for something on each side, would you do the same on each? Or perhaps a Zeffy on each side and a different clematis on either side?

Thanks! If I don't hear back on Kacper, I think I'm leaning towards Anna Louise or Jackmani. Of course, I haven't gone to Wendy's link yet, heh, heh...

:)
Dee

Clematis on the Web is my favorite resource for clematis pictures and info on the internet.

I have Zephrine Drouhine rose and I have several early viticellas that bloom the same time. My ZD blooms heavy in May and spotty in September.

I like the integrifolias very well also. Look at Rooguchi - it's one of my favorites. A gorgeous mid-blue. That's an easy class of clematis to grow and disease free for me in Z6b, Cincinnati.

As far as how many to plant!! I'm so glad you asked. I would plant a rose on each side of the trellis and 2 or 3 clematis on each side. If you can see dirt, you have room for another plant. As soon as you run out of room horizontally; grow vertically. If the tag says space 3 feet apart, try it 1 foot apart.

Yeah, that's the ticket.

I personally thought Kacper was too violet and didn't provide a lot of contrast like the purples you were talking about, but those things are very subjective.

The clem on the web picture for Kacper is more pink than violet. Doesn't look lat all like the pic you showed

c.o.w kacper

om: I love your attitude re seeing dirt LOL

My roguchi got PM no matter where I put it. its gone.

On my arbor I planted two Wm. Baffin (vigorous) -- one on each side and one Huldine on each side. I get a little overlap, but when Wm. is done, Huldine takes over. It helps a lot especially with a once-bloomer. THe rose absolutely lights up the garden and it is sad when it is done. Huldine goes another month and a bit more in the fall.

Its possible that more than one variety clematis might get confusing which vines need pruning, which vines might get wilt and need cutting down. A lot of thorns in the way managing the clems! Less is best.

That brings up another point re Group 2 vs. Group 3... It is a quite a job pruning Wm. Baffin in the late winter/early spring. zephryn too? Having a Group 3 makes the job easier. I just rip rip rip the clematis and then work on the rose. Trying to preserve some group 2 vines might get tricky. Do-able but I'd rather not.

on trellises I will put clems 1' apart, but with the rose arbor I tried to have a little restraint. I expect the rose to eat up the real estate over time.

organicmickie, you are too funny! I like the way you think, though!

I actually have a Rooguchi, but I didn't think it would climb high enough to make an impact in the rose. I guess I was thinking with it being an integrifolia, and all.... I really have no experience with clematis. I have four of them - three of which I bought last fall and are tiny things still in pots, and the Rooguchi, which was given to me by a friend who was moving. It never got higher than about 4 feet in her garden, after several years, so I thought it would not get much higher. And yes, that is still in a pot too.

Wendy, I have given thought to having more than one clematis and what that would entail pruning-wise, although I haven't come to any conclusions as to what to do yet (no surprise there!). At least Zephirine Drouhin is thornless, or nearly so, so that will help.

Wendy, as far as the photo of Kacper that I linked to, keep in mind that the link I provided seems to only go to the main page, with the photos on the side constantly changing (I realized this AFTER posting it). Is it possible that when you clicked on my link that a different clematis than Kacper was showing on the page? I'm a little confused by what you are saying - the COW photo of Kacper doesn't look pink to me...? Sorry, I'm befuddled here! :)

Thank you all so much for all the help and infor here. It's really very helpful!

:)
Dee

Here is a link that might be useful: maybe this link will work better....

Dee, here at work the COW Kacper doesn't look as pink as it did at home. interesting monitor difference!

Thornless! wow! that's great. a group 3 is still going to be easiest to deal with in the spring. At least it is with the mess of canes william baffin makes on my arbor.

But then again, it sounds like procastination might be one of your leanings? LOL! If so, then a group 2 might work after all... just leave it be

"...But then again, it sounds like procastination might be one of your leanings?..."

OMG! Boy oh boy, Wendy, can you read me, lol! What gave it away? The fact that all my clematis are still in pots? :) I almost choked on my dinner! I'll have to remember not to eat and check the forums at the same time!

Ah yes, perhaps I should go with the Group II.

Thank you all once again for the suggestions - and the laughs. I appreciate them both!

:)
Dee