I picked this up from Menards this year for I think 8 bucks. Root system was spectacular, and lots of nice healthy buds now.

Pics show first bloom, but a little more on the purple side. I read with the Rouge Cardinal the color changes more purplish with age....or is this something else altogether?

And wow, does this ever pop against my fence. I love it.

The only other bloom I had this year (my first) was Prince Charles, but that one didn't stand out. Of the eleven clematis on this fenceline, seven have buds so far. I just cut these back down to a few inches at the end of July!

I put my (dishpan) hand in the pic to better gauge the size of the flower. Pretty, but I was expecting something more in the crimson color scheme.

If this isn't Rouge Cardinal, then what is it?

{{gwi:623313}}

{{gwi:623314}}

{{gwi:623315}}

{{gwi:623316}}