Looks like Niobe to me.

I think Huvi from Wayside about 2 yrs ago. Problem sending pic. Have several-they are blooming now. White underside. Heat seems to affect them-drooping but beautiful and deep wine colored.

Thanks, it does look like Niobe. That would make it a Group 2, so I should prune after flowering, shouldn't I?

Yes...Pruning group 2's are pruned AFTER their first flush of blooms is over and ONLY if you think they need to be shaped or kept in bounds...They will bloom again late Summer/Early Fall..Jeanne

Niobe can also be pruned as a type III. I have done this ever since having it. This just makes it bloom later in the season if you do treat it as a type III.

Here is my HUVI...Is this what you have?

{{gwi:601133}}

It is really hard to tell the difference between Huuvi & Niobe. COTW says that Niobe was one of the parents of Huuvi.

Pieheart & Dazi, are yours really dark when they first open?

Marie

Yes my Huvi really dark and wine colored, narrow petals as they open- star like-with pointed arched petals, white stripe on center of underside petals.I have Niobe also-she is definately red. Niobe is all white on her undersides. Niobe a much smaller flower.
How lovely they both are. What an addiction these clematis are!

I never noticed all these different things that dazi mentioned, I'm going to look tomorrow and see. I'm pretty sure that the petals are rounded at the tips, but I'm not positive. I never looked at the underside. It's almost like you are telling me how to "see" the way you (dazi) are describing the flower, all these details I never paid attention to!

{{gwi:601146}}


{{gwi:601150}}


If I got this right I will faint-you need a masters degree in computer science to figure out this posting pics business!! Left is Huvi and Rt. is Niobe.
(Gasp and "faint")

Niobe is a much more common variety to find for sale so likely it is Niobe.

:)

I would guess Niobe, which is generally more dark than Huvi. My Niobe also has that velvety texture. While Huvi has more carmine shade to it. I agree that petal shape is more rounded for Niobe, and narrower for Huvi.

I also agree with Miguel that Niobe could be a Group 3. In the book 'Complete Gardener' by Monty Don, he mentioned cutting down Niobe close to the ground each spring. This spring, after 5 years of treating Niobe as Group 2, I cut it down. Although flowering was delayed by 3 to 4 weeks, it was more profuse. From now on, it's a group 3 for me!

My Huvi (only on its second year in the ground, from the bargain bag bare root sale at Wal-Mart: 2 for $2.49) was the better performer by a lot, covered in blooms and for a much longer time

The Kvistik clematis that I have, have really been great performers: Ruutel, Huvi, and Little Duckling

Carefree

Good to see someone else treating a type II as a type III and getting good results. It has gotten to the point that most of my type IIs, which are limited in number, are being treated as type IIIs and loving every minute of it. My Sunset clematis, which was purchased as Margot Koster, has been treated as a type III from the get go due to the mis-identification of it at the nursery and has more vines coming out of the ground than quite a few of my other type IIs.