Wow. That is awesome. I'll be planting some Fuji Musume in two weeks and I can only hope they look as lovely as your Proteus this time next spring. Kudos!

I do like Proteus. Can you tell us more about it? What class, etc.

And how light is it? Does it need some shade protection from the hot afternoon sun? In other words, does it fade badly?

I love your pics.

Kate

Drop dead gorgeous.

I'm waiting for mine to bud...only 2 year for her.

Very,very pretty. It looks like it glows, and would lighten up a secluded area. Another one to add to my wish list if it likes my PA zone.

Thank you for sharing. Jane

Proteus is from group II. The color in the pic is pretty true. she's known in the clemtis world as a pink. I've posted another proteus growing with the president. she does well in full sun, never seems to fade and she contrasts well growing with a darker color.

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Ok I am just pea-green envious...I have two "Proteus" and NEVER have I had a fully double...maybe 4 short extra tepals in the center and that is it..Mine is 5 years old..I just took my oldest and Hardpruned that sucker down to about a foot tall and hoping he'll do better this coming fall..love your companioning with "The President"..Now you have me wanting to order something this fall to plant with him..just yummy...thanks for sharing those are stunning pics...Jeanne
ut-oh..did I say order another one..hmmm..naughty naughty me..NO, naughty naughty you for making me want another clematis...ahh ...that felt so good to blame someone else for my addiction..tee hee..thanks

I just bought Proteus and intend to plant it with Elsa Spath. I hope it looks as nice as yours does in time!!

WHERE do I get one???? I've never seen it around here (Chicagoland).

Westy

Bought mine last year at either Home Depot or Lowes. It's doing great.

What lovely pictures! Sigh. I am so envious!
kay

this never had a tag. Do you think this is Proteus? Thanks, Donna

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Donna~ it sure looks like 'proteus'

Looks like it to me as well!
S

thank you, Donna

I bought this as Proteus but after seeing your pics of Proteus I'm wondering if mine is something else, maybe Walter Pennell. I had this for about 15 years, a really strong grower, I cut it down to about 6 inches this spring and it came back gangbusters but I expect it will only have single flowers on the new growth this year.

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Annette

Annette~ it's 'proteus.' just a much better double flower display than my pics.
My proteus has better doubles in the spring when I don't hard prune the prior year. The pics I posted are from a hard prune last year. I try and hard prune my group II's every other year.
clematisjoe

Thanks Joe, the camera can be deceiving as to color at times. I hard pruned mine this spring it was such a tangled mess, there's one fat bud that just might be a double but the other buds are small so they will be singles. We've had a very rainy spring, the roses are hating it but the clematis are thriving.

Annette

Joe, can you explain the hard pruning of IIs every other year? Maybe this is something I should be doing....thanks.

redsoxs- hard pruning my group II's every other year keeps them from turning in to a big tangled mess. It also helps to promote fresh new growth from the ground. If you hard prune early -right after flowering you still have time for new growth to grow and harden for the following years blooms.
joe

Gorgeous. It's on my want list. I have two Josephine, which are a little similar. I added Avante Guard, and Galor two Vitacellas last year, they both did extremly well this Spring.
My newest Love is Arctic Queen a huge White Double, that is blooming her head off, and only a Month old.

The pictures posted here show different coloring. In MHO this is the true Proteus
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Thank you, Joe. I like the idea of pruning after flowering. I am still at the stage of pruning all types hard each spring but in a year or two, I will adopt your method.

My Proteus opened with double blossoms that looked like Joe's original photo, slivery pink. Now the single blossoms on new growth look more like neptune44's, mauvy pink. This is from a gallon pot, first year in the ground.