I bought one a couple of weeks ago. The leaf color is great.

I like the leaf color also but I believe the new leaf color comes out dark and fades out as the season goes on--a phenomenon that is typical with many of the purplish colored plants. Is probably more of an issue in the hotter climates. I know the redbud cultivar 'Forest Pansy' which has wonderful spring colored foliage turns more green color as the heat of the summer arrives!

I was told to whack it back when it finished blooming and the color started to fade to green and that it would grow up purple and bloom again. The person who told me this had been doing that for years with his in the display garden at his nursery.

Yep, you can do that BorS and that will solve the problem in your zone. Try doing that in the heat of the south and I bet you might have a different experience!

Is it correct that the crown of integrifolias should not be planted deeply?

I plant all my clematis deeper in the ground than they were in their original plants, integrifolias included.

I did not plant my Integrifolias deeper. :O

BorS, mound soil up around it. Same as planting it deeper originally!

Here is a link that might be useful: Completely Clematis Pruning Info

They have had compost spread on them and composted manure and we'll be spreading compost as mulch again this year. The actual soil line is a couple inches down.

Then you did bury then deeper than they were originally. Just remember compost decomposes and the soil level will decrease as it is consumed!

I have grown some clematis recta purpurea from seed. I paired it up with my new spirea mellow yellow and it looks very nice.
No blooms yet though...

I have been admiring the pics of this clematis ever since I first saw it, and now that it is on sale (12.95 ea/Wayside), I ordered one. I'm planning on planting it in front between my rose bushes- I have a stump there it can prop itself up on.
That is a very helpful page on pruning, ncville. It's a wonder my clematis have done as well as they have since I didn't prune them the first yr I had them- didn't know I was supposed to! :( I never knew anyone who had any and knew nothing about them. I have made sure my morning glories are not going to strangle them this year. :)
I did goof up and let some of mine set seed- not playing close enough attention (busy drowning aphids on my rose bush), I guess I'll have fewer flowers. Oh well, gardening is a learning experience...and I have yielded to temptation too much this spring- inundated w/ plants and have every bit of my garden crammed w/ tomatoes- if I have a good yr I might need to set up a roadside stand :) Brandy

I have this one in zone 5 central Illinois and the leaves are wonderful in the spring. I purchased mine a few years ago as a 2 gallon container plant and it's done very well. For me the leaves start going green about the time it starts blooming, which it's in full bloom now.

I like the leaves while purple in the spring, it helps pull the heuchera , nine bark, ect to pop and continue the 'color' flow. Once the leaves have gone green and the flush ofbloom is finished, it just blends into the garden and the plants around it begin their turns as section highlights.

Brandy, although clematis are helped out by pruning the first year or so in the ground it is not necessary depending on the variety and the size of the clematis you originally purchase. When I first started planting clematis, I didn't know anything about this either but found out through experimentation that it was a good idea especially for plants with few stems coming from the ground. If some of your clematis have set seed, just whack the plant back and keep it fertilized and watered well. You might just be surprised with rebloom this summer or fall. I do this to quite a few of my clematis here in NC.

Justmetoo, after the plant finishes blooming, whack it back severely and do as I told Brandy. The plant will put out new foliage that will be similar in color to what it puts out in spring again.

Thanks, ncville, I'll go do that now before I get sidetracked. Brandy

I paid $4.99 for the full 4" potted one I bought.

I saw a mature one today in a display garden. I'll post a link to the photo after I get them uploaded. It was greener lower on the plant. It was very attractive.