If it was from just the bottom picture and the fact that it doesn't get very tall I would guess Niobe. The top two look like so many different ones that I wouldn't even guess.

Thanks for the suggestion.
Would Niobe be that short?

Clematis on the Web says it grows about 7 - 10 feet. I have one that grows to about 7'. Others say it is shorter for them.

My Niobe doesn't get much taller than 4 feet or so, but it's in a spot that's too dry I think. It certainly isn't happy. I agree that the third photo looks a lot like Niobe, but mine has always been that dark red, never the more purple-red.

hi! I'm certainly not an expert, but I do have 12 clematis, and I have had Niobe for about 6-7 years,like nhbabs it never gets very tall, but even in full day sun it is more red that purply for me. Could you possibly have two clematis there?(by the way the bottom picture does look like Niobe)

My Niobe has never reached 7' and it has always been purple like the top two pictures for me.

I only saw the darker version this year. I wish I had taken digital photos from prior years instead of the film prints.

Should I leave it alone this year or go ahead and cut it back again perhaps down to 12 inches from the ground (it isn't tall anyway)?

I need to get some info on group 2's and how to prune them versus cutting them all the way down.
The group 2's I got last year I already cut them back last week as they will only be here for their second season and from what I understand they need at least 3 years to show their stuff. Right?

Julia

Cut it back.

Hard pruning helps Clematis, it never hurts them especially when they are newly planted.

This one isn't new. It has been here several years which may mean over 5+. I'm going to trim it this year and just see what happens. I'm thinking of planting something else with it just so there is something growing to the top of the trellis. This clematis always stays short.

Julia

My Niobe opens like the flower on the picture 3, but after several days in sunny position it turns more purple like on the picture 1. 10 feet?? Never. 3-4 feet at the best.