Most are not evergreen nor fragrant.

Groups are pruning groups but they aren't written in stone.

They can flop back over themselves when they reach the top of a fence.

Some perform better when deadheaded, some don't care.

Some bloom once, some rebloom, pretty much none bloom all summer.

Many are purple or dark blue, none of them evergreen.

Sorry, but I think one is evergreen Armandi or something like that. (but its flowers are not blue or purple and they are small flowers at that)

If you want fragrant, you will have to sacrifice either long bloom or size.

But the good news is that you are not limited to just one. Get an evergreen, get a blue-purple and get a wonderfully fragrant one or two.

~Chills

So what do they look like in the winter? Are they woody stems with no leaves like Hydrangeas, or do you cut them back all the way to the ground in the fall?

woody stems with no leaves

Aggie...the easiest to grow are the pruning group 3's aka Viticellas..Reasoning is because they flourish beautifully in full sun in our hot zone provided they are given plenty of water...clematis are really easy once you realize their needs and how to prune...the Viticellas aka Pruning group 3 bloom on the new vines grown during the growing season hence they are hard pruned down to about 6-12 inches each late winter/early spring...All clematis except the Montanas will look yucky with brown leaves during the winter as BOS said..Pruning group 2's aka Early,Large & Late Flowering Clematis aren't pruned EXCEPT after they have finished their first BLOOM PERIOD and ONLY to keep in shape & in bounds..But some people do hard prune them as well and with most clematis It is advised to hard prune the first couple of years so they can grow larger healthy vigorous rootsystems to survive having all those vines growing from them...Clematis are truly the 1st year they sleep,2nd year they creap and 3rd year they leap..so covering a 6 foot fence will take a few years to accomplish what you want ..You didn't say how wide of an area you are referring to?...Jeanne

Jeanne, I know you grow a spooneri or something similar. Not sure if you grow any other montanas, but my understanding was that even the montanas drop their leaves in zones that are not frost free.

Montanas do drop their leaves here. They get huge bare woody vines like Wisterias.

Jeanne that's the one major problem with first time clematis growers. No patience. They want a full blown 4 year old plant the first year. I'm glad to see someones stressing how important it is to be patient.

Miguel...I have both "Spooneri" and "Mayleen"...Mine kept most their leaves..they turned a purplish red colour ...then starting sending out side vines like mad this year...year 2 & 3 for mine...maybe because I had an unusually warm winter??..I will take note and notice moreso this winter..thanks for your input..what would I do if I didn't have yall to watch my back when I misstep!! I don't grow any of the Evergreens...hmmm..maybe I should get one just to find out..LOL...

I figured the montanas would in your zone BorS since you all do get colder temps and even snow. We haven't had a decent snow in years here although we do get ice storms and temps well below freezing and the montanas here do drop their leaves.

Jeanne, when I first planted my first montana, I was also under the impression that they retained their leaves. I thought my first one had died the first fall I had it after the first forst and the leaves fell off. I found out otherwise after the plant developed new shoots the following spring and flowered. Don't know what the winter conditions were for you last winter but if you had moderate temps. and the montanas were in a protected environment, then I have no doubt that they could have kept their leaves all winter. However if you get any frosts and the plants are in an exposed condition, they are non-evergreen in nature.

I do think you should get an evergreen clematis. I bet Freckles would be evergreen for you in your zone! You would most likely also get blooms in early winter like they do in England.

OOOOooo..Freckles..What a great idea hon...Thanks...Jeanne