Impossible question for me. If it were a viticella, I would go with Betty Corning for its floriferous nature and fragrant blooms. If it were a US native, it would either be viorna or texensis--both are great for their flowers and color. If it were one of the texensis hybrids, it would be Duchess of Albany-a very vigorous grower with loads of blooms, and no mildew problems for me! If it were an integrifolia/integrifolia hybrid , it would Petit Faucon for its long bloom season. Don't have a lot of experience with the type IIs since they don't perform well here in the south, so wouldn't pick one from that group as a favorite.

Another vote for Betty Corning. It's my all time favorite !
Lois

I would vote for Polish spirit. It is so carefree and easy to grow anywhere. It will grow in sun or shade and has never had disease problems. Our summers are very dry and the foliage stays nice and green. It doesn't dry up and turn brown. It blooms from July through September for me and is very showy. The flowers look good with so many other plants. I really love this one.

OMG..that is sacreligious..I'm just too torn to choose just one!...

Whoa! Easy Jeanne. Slow deep breaths in and out. It was only a "what if" scenario. LOL!

I would have to say Rooguchi. It has been a non-stop bloomer.

***Breathing in deeply***Exhaling slowly***
Guess if I just hada chose just ONE...it would be...hmmm...uhhhh...ahhhh..grrrrrr..."Voluceau"..no..."Ramona"...no..."Madame Julia Correvon"..forget that..."Huldine"..oh rats!..ok ok ok..."Voluceau" it 'tis!

Forgot about this one. For a type III non-viticella, I should have mentioned Tie Dye--one that this year has produced the most flowers that held up well in our heat, humidity, and drought conditions.

Ok..."Tie Dye"..LOL..mine performed just as Miguel said!@!

Daniel Deronda is the best performer for me. Juuli is a good one too. I love Betty Corning and Venosa Violacea but they are younger and not to full growth yet.

Since I have well over fifty, there is no way I'd just choose one....

MarmoriMargotKosterdurandiiJackmaniiSuperbaRooguchitanguticaPolishSpiritMultiBlueJosephineArabella.

That was just one; I didn't use a space.

But don't invite me to THAT world.

I have over 200 but notta Betty Corning; it's next on my list. How have I lived this long without her? OH! I just planted x triternata 'Rubromarginata'. Quite the charmer, that one!

I would give up lilies and roses and DH before I would give up my clematis. ;)

Sweet Autumn Clematis (Clematis Paniculata or whatever its being called this year).

And to think I had to plant a new one this year as the Easter Freeze from last year wiped my old one out.

for a LFH I would have to pick.....um....Florida Sieboldii

~Chills

Betty Corning, hands down. She was one of my first clematis - and all others that I have gotten pale in comparison (so far). She's awesome!!

Sweet autumn clematis is clematis terniflora. It is called clematis paniculata but only by those who don't realize that clematis paniculata is a semievergreen to evergreen species clematis from New Zealand. The two are separate and different plants.

Too bad about your SAC Chills. I could have sent you a plant since I still am finding babies in my yard from where mine reseeds even though I try and clip the faded flowers off the plant when flowering is done. This year, my new tact is going to be to shear the plant back by half after flowering is done to make sure I remove all those seeds. Maybe I will even get a new flush of blooms since mine normally blooms in early August.

Florida Sieboldii is not a LFH but rather a hybrid belonging in pruning group III.

Organicmickie, how in the world can you have 200 clematis and not have a Betty Corning? That is sacriligeous! LOL Get one and you will love it. By the way, make sure your triternata rubromarginata has good drainage or you could loose it over the winter.

Oh, nckvlledudes, thanks for the advice on drainage. I didn't know that but fortunately planted it well. I put it in last year and forgot about it. When it was coming up, I kept thinking that was where I planted Royal Velours. Then the sweetie bloomed! So where the heck is that Royal Velours?

I kept knowing I should get Betty Corning. I don't come to the forums often enough. It's raining today, though. Thanks to Kim's What'd ya buy at Chalk Hill post and this If you could choose; my want list grows...my planting space shrinks...my bank account depletes...life is good.

Mickie

viticella Venosa Violacea I love... I seriously like all my other ones, but this one really makes me happy when it blooms...

{{gwi:307385}}

VV is a beauty for sure and another of my favs...I have two of her...Jeanne

General Sikorski is my current favorite. It was planted last year and I wasn't sure I was going to like it, but it is strong and full of blooms, and the earwigs don't seem to like it much. The earwigs were a little late this year, but have come back with a vengeance, so some of my clematis, especially the young ones are looking a little ratty.