The President is considered a pruning group 2. It will bloom on the old wood in the spring and then again later in the summer or fall on the new wood. You don't have to prune it at all or you can hard prune it every year depending on when you want your plant to bloom. Clematis are slow starters, so don't expect too much from it the first couple of years. A lot of clematis growers recommend you hard prune your clematis the first or second springs to encourage multiple branching. You may have to plant it where it gets afternoon shade in your hot climate. It is a very pretty clematis. I really love mine. I have mine growing with a golden jasmine. This is the rebloom on the new wood that is blooming in my garden now.

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Thanks so much for the quick response flowerfan2. :) This plant was blooming when I bought it, and it's continued to bloom. (It's got several flowers right now.) It's already got several runners (if that's the stalk?)

Ok, a bit of shade to ward off excess heat, gotcha. I'll adjust where I was going to plant it then, and back off the pruning idea. Thanks again for your help. I look forward to getting to know you all.

Magialuna, I grow mine in full sun in hot, humid South Carolina and they do fine. You should be able to plant them where you originally planned to. We have those freaky winters too, ice storms followed by a week of temps in the 70's :-). The clematis die back during the winter but new shoots push up every spring. Plant them with the crown under the soil and they will return reliably. They really aren't as difficult to grow as touted. I have over 50 clematis of all types planted among the roses and other plants in my garden. They get the same water and fertilizer as my other plants, nothing special. They do take a couple of years to make a real show so be patient.

Carol

I should also note that The President is one of the best type 2's in terms of constant flowering. Most don't do this after their first flush in the spring. Good choice!