Like the true blues, I have never seen a true red Clematis. The Gravetye Beauty I saw was purplish but that may be related to the climate here and the exposure of not full sun.

I know the Texensis are supposed to be true red.

I don't think it was a mildewer, the lady whose garden I saw it in was aggressive about getting rid of problem clems. We had a long discussion about Rooguchi which she shovel pruned and quit growing commercially because of mildew. We did not discuss others but I assume if she got rid of that beauty she would get rid of any others that constantly mildewed.

Her garden was surrounded by high evergreen hedges and mature fir trees and not in full sun and not with good air circulation yet she had at least a hundred mature clems in glorious growth all over. Probably closer to two hundred and several hundred daylilies too. It was the most fabulous private garden I've ever seen and I'm very sad that she stopped her retail operation.

Rose
Check out "Madame Julia Correvon" and another of my favorites is "Ville de Lyon"...Jeanne

I have Ville de Lyon, it is very pink here. Pinker than Rouge Cardinal and Niobe.

Ville de Lyon is the favorite of the few I grow but I don't consider her red--maybe in the red family but more towards the magenta side here in my garden. My daughter's Niobe tends to be a more dark red but all that I have seen tend to have a lot of blue tones to them. I suppose growing conditions plays some part in the coloring.

Thanks, everyone for the great suggestions. Buyorsell888, that private garden sounds wonderful. I'll bet we all would have loved to have seen it.

My "Ville de Lyon" starts out red and then becomes more pinkis towards the middle of the tepals...Jeanne
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It is the florist in me that makes me particular about colors. When dealing with FTD orders and wedding flowers one must be very specific when ordering the flowers. Fabric swatches were essential for weddings because what the gown store and/or the bride called the colors often didn't match what the rose growers did.

To me, there are red tomatoes, red tulips, red roses (though most are burgundy or magenta) red carnations for sure but what most people call red, I don't. None of the red waterlilies are red to me. All are magenta. I've never seen a really red Clem except one sprig of a species texensis at a show that isn't in mass cultivation for the trade.

However, just because I don't think it is really red doesn't mean you won't, so don't let take my saying it is really magenta to stop you from planting what ever Clem you want to.
Jeanne sees red, I don't, neither one of us is wrong. People see colors differently.

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What a gorgeous pic of your "Ville de Lyon"..I agree..I don't really see totally red..LOL..but I do see red edges and that is enough for me to love this clematis!!...so, it's really pink but has that red tinge?..LOL..take a look and see if you like anyway...Jeanne

My clematis texensis looks red to me.

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As for Gravetye Beauty, I would say it is reddish but perhaps with some purple tint to it. In my garden, it does suffer from mildew like a lot of the texensis viorna hybrids do.

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And a delicious red it 'tis Miguel!!..Love both of those..I keep saying being from Texas that I should be ashamed I am not growing Texensis!!...Jeanne

That texensis looks similar to the one I saw a clipping of. Much more red than any other. I've never seen it for sale here. 'Princess Diana' is the only texensis I have but I have not had it long enough to know if it mildews or not. I bought it last summer. I have not had any Clems mildew and Portland is the land of mildew.....

Buyorsell, the texensis was purchased from Collector's Nursery last spring. I know Dan at Brushwood sells this clematis also but don't kow how red the variety he sells is since I don't have one in the garden.

I ordered this from Silver Star. I don't have blooms yet, so can't confirm how true red it is:

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Bourbon' Evip031' NEW!

Stunning bright Red Flowers with a yellow center. This one is a beauty!

Group: Early Large Flowering
Height: 6'
Location: Semi-Shade
Blooms: May-June, Sept
Pruning Group: 2(Light Prune)
Raised By: R. Evison & Poulsen Roser 2002

I love those cute little red bells!

What about Crimson King? I too have been looking for a red that does well up here. I have Niobe and she does well for me. Earnest Markham never bloomed in the 8 years I grew her. Crimson King opened it's first blossom today and it is a red, I like her. ??????????

I ordered Mme Madame Julia Correvon from Silver Star. Can't find a good source for Gravetye Beauty or just the regular Texensis. Maybe too late in the season and everyone is out of it. I also checked out Crimson King...very pretty but no source. Thanks again, everyone! Now I'd like to know which Clematis is soft pastel pink..not rose or mauve pink.

I've never seen one. Only rose or mauve pink or lavender tinted pink, but again, I am very particular about color naming.

I have Clarissima, Hagley Hybrid, John Warren, Violet Elizabeth, Pangbourne Pink, Willy and Rosie O'Grady. They all have rose or mauve or lavender tint to them. I have Pink Fantasy too but it hasn't bloomed yet, so I can't say.

Clarissima and John Warren are both gorgeous. I highly recommend them. Willy and Rosie O'Grady are both boring and Violet Elizabeth is too. All three are pale and washed out looking. They all may go bye bye soon.

I forgot to say that I have Josephine, which is supposed to be true pink but it hasn't bloomed for me yet so I can't say. When I bought it last year it did have pink flowers but it was greenhouse grown and that can change the color significantly.

Chalk Hill is a good source for Gravetye Beauty. I purchased mine from there. It's never had mildew in my climate.

Another "red" that I have in my garden is Kermesina, a viticella type.

Here is a link that might be useful: chalk hill - Kermesina

Buford...shame on you..because of that pic..I spoke with Debbie and ordered "Bourbon"!!Now to find where in the heck to plant it along with "Chalcedony" that I ordered..grrrrrrr..I really need to stay away from the forums and maybe my pocket book wouldn't suffer..LOL..thanks for sharing...Jeanne

HA HA, got you Jeanne! I planted Bourbon on this little trellis that came with our hummingbird feeder. My husband loves the hummers, so I wanted to get something red for him. It's growing great, I hope to have some real blooms soon that I can post here.

I look forward to seeing them!!..and then I can show you mine..LOL...Jeanne

Buyorsell888, I think John Warren and Clarissima are both gorgeous. These are going on the wish list. Wanda, I do have Kermesina. It's a baby plant so can't wait to see it bloom. I will order Gravetye Beauty eventually...Chalk Hill is sold out. The only source I know of right now is Bluestone Perennials but I've never ordered anything from them. There's no hurry since I've ordered so many lately.

The flowers on John Warren are huge too. I think it would look really nice with Niobe. Trying to decide if I should rip out Violet Elizabeth and replace with Niobe so they will mingle. I think the darker color of Niobe will pick up the darker markings on John Warren.

Violet Elizabeth is pale and washed out though double and doesn't make John Warren "pop" like I'd like.

I have Clarrisima with Hania, they are both too small to mingle but I think will be nice together. I like to mingle my Clemmies.

I meant to say that I'm waiting until they bloom before making any decisions on combinations. Photos can be sooooo deceiving as to true colors.

I just saw Clematis Bourbon at Walmart. It looks a little different than on the Buford's picture: dark red, without lighter mid part. Maybe, it will mature to this coloration. I bought another Evison's Patio Clematis there - 'Versailles' (Clematis X 'Evipo025' PPAF). Both are very showy. Love bold colors.