Well the 3 you have suggested are prone to wilt. If you have never grown clematis before try one of the viticella varieties
http://www.clematis.com.pl/wms/wmsg.php/3828.html
You can probably find something in that list (scroll down alittle and there is a list of viticella there for you) Lynn

I have had Ramona and HF Young in the ground for three and four years and they have never wilted. One good way to help prevent wilt is to treat your type IIs as type IIIs the first couple of years and prune them back to within 6 inches of the ground each year. This will allow the plant to concentrate on root development at the expense of top growth and help lessen the likelihood of wilt.

Both Ramona and HF Young are paler colored flowers and will fade some in full sun. However, I really like having the variety of different colored blue-purple flowers on my HF Young since the more recently opened flowers will be darker in color and the older flowers will be lighter in color.

As to whether either will rebloom in your zone, it will depend on the length of your growing season and if you are willing to cut them back by half after their initial bloom period and keep them well fertilized and watered during the summer. Most of the type IIs I have in my zone 7a garden will rebloom if I do as I outlined above.

As to pole height, it will really depend on the size of your birdhouse and the clematis you choose. Putting a small birdhouse on a very tall pole would look as ridiculous as putting a very large birdhouse on a short pole. For an average size birdhouse (using generalities here), a pole that extends 5 or perhaps 6 feet above the ground sounds like a good height. Regardless of how tall a clematis is reported to grow, either Ramona or HF Young would do well on that height of a pole since the plant can always drape back on itself if it reaches the top of the pole.

Well I have grown both and both have wilted - and I just figured if she is a beginner maybe to try a easier beginner variety. Last year both my Ramona and H. F. Young wilted. I had to cut my Ramona down and my H F young I just cut out the wilted part and it was ok. She - like you may not have any problems - But it can be discouraging when this happens. Lynn

Thank you both for your input! I have 3 other clematis... Niobe (around 4 years)also Hagley Hybrid & Bee's Jubiliee which are on their 3rd year both growing nicely so far in a large pot down in a window-well onto a trellis. I had a little wilt on the Niobe the first year, but not since, and it has reached the roof this year.
I appreciate the info on the viticella types, and will maybe try one of those sometime, but didn't see the color that I have in mind for this particular spot...the only thing even close was Price Charles and I don't think I want a plant in my garden named after him. :-) ha
I am looking at a Will Goodwin... claims to be a re-bloomer. Any experience with that one, anyone?

Mayflower57

I have both Will Goodwin & Ramona. I have not had wilt on either of them, but both of these have a lot of winter dieback in my garden. I get a few blooms on the remaining stems in the spring and another small crop of rebloom in the fall. Then they get hit by frost! I like the wavy edges of Will, but prefer the red anthers of Ramona. I definitely get a lot more bloom on my viticellas and they get bigger faster as well.

How about 'Daniel Deronda'? Darker than Will or Ramona but it is a blooming machine for me. Blooms twice and for a long long time.

For a light blue viticella that isn't Prince Charles look at 'Emilia Plater' or 'Perle d'Azur'

Will Goodwin has never wilted for me either. The first two years a rabbit did the pruning for me, down to ground level, but it always came back. I still cut it back hard every spring. One thing about Will Goodwin is a lot of it puddles on the ground unless I guide it every day. I've accepted this and moved it in a place where the effect is wanted. After the first flush in June there is a brief pause, then it flowers lighly until late summer or early fall. It will always have a place in my garden as it was my first Clematis and it started my love for the genus.

If you want a vine packed with blooms, Will Goodwin isn't what you want.

May 06, as you can see, there are a ton of buds with the open flowers, extending the bloom time.

Here is a link that might be useful: Daniel Deronda

buyorsell-is that growing strictly on the lattice or do you have a trellis under it?

Buyorsell888, what is the plant next your Daniel Deronda? It has such pretty pale green foliage.

Looks like spirea bumalda to me! (the lighter foliage) Right, buyorsell? If so, I've been missing an opportunity right under my nose. Now for some more transplanting. . . .

Spirea x bumalda 'Magic Carpet'

The arbor has criss crossed wood on the sides and the fence is ordinary lattice, my husband built it. No other trellis.

I have Clems growing on lattice in various locations around the yard. They climb it easily.

I like the color combo BorS.

Thanks, Buyorsell888, it's beautiful. I love plants that have unusually pale green foliage...especially with red or dark pink flowers. Wonder if there are any Clematis with unusual foliage?

Look up Amanda Marie as it is supposed to have variegated foliage. Of course I assume that is what you mean by unusual foliage.

Here is a link that might be useful: Amanda Marie

Wow, Nckvilledudes, Amanda Marie is beautiful and that is certainly unusual foliage. Thanks for letting me know...will be looking for it. I think nice or unusual foliage is just as interesting as the blooms. There's another Clematis that's very different called Stolwijk Gold. It has very pale yellowish foliage with blue flowers. Being new to Clematis, I'm not sure how it performs. Have you heard of it?

Yes I have heard of it. Now that you mention it Plant Delights had it in their spring catalog. It is an alpina type clematis and I personally haven't had much luck with them in my garden--I think the summer heat and humidity does them in. If you want to try it, I would suggest you put it in an area where it gets morning sun and shade in the afternoon.

Here is a link that might be useful: Stolwijk Gold

There are multiple Spirea x bumalda cultivars with colored foliage. On 'Magic Carpet' as with the larger 'Goldflame' the new growth is bright orangey-pink fading to coppery green and the flowers are magenta.

'Limemound' is bright lime green fading to chartruese with magenta flowers. Link to picture included.

I like colorful and unusual foliage too. I may have to order that gold Clemmie. I have never had to mail order a Clemmie, have found all of my 40+ locally. Alpinas do great for me here.

Here is a link that might be useful: Spirea Limemound