Help me with Identity

10 years ago

I have several purple clematis in my garden and am trying to get permanent markers with correct names for them. This one has me puzzled. It is just beginning to bloom in my Zone 6 garden. It gets very tall over l0 feet often. It is very dark and velvety textured.

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NHBabs z4b-5a NH

10 years ago

last modified: 10 years ago

Since this one keeps popping up . . .

IDing a clmeatis isn't only a matter of color. Look at the boss of stamens in the center - color, shape, and size compared to the petals. Look at the overlap or gappiness between the petals. Look at whether the petals remain flat as they age or tend to curl in some way. Look at whether the petals are ruffled along the edge. Check out the flower size. Leaves on some plants are characteristic, either in color or shape. See if the plant is a climber or herbaceous and how tall it is supposed to get. Sometimes bud shape, flower stem length, or bud size are important. Season of bloom will be moderately consistent in a given area, so a plant that blooms here in NH only in May I won't expect to be blooming in July here.

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Comments (19)

Sue Brunette (formerly known as hockeychik)
10 years ago
Warsaw Nike perhaps?
aluvaboy
10 years ago
Looks to me like Jackmanii Superba
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gldno1
Original Author
10 years ago
Thank you both for responding. I am about firm on Warsaw Nike. I have Jackmanii Superba on the front porch so know that isn't it. All the purples are very similar I think. Wonder how on earth the developers decide there is enough difference to name them!
maximus2015
10 years ago
Warsaw Nike is much redder, and not as purple. Check the website www.clematisontheweb.com
mnwsgal
10 years ago
I also think Warsaw Nike.
maximus2015
10 years ago
Nope. Warsaw Nike is ". . . a single, rich, velvety, REDDISH-PURPLE flower".
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
10 years ago
LOL!! It is pretty much impossible to determine the ID of a clematis based on just a literal description. Even photos can be a bit misleading, as time of day and degree of sun intensity can alter coloring rather significantly.

here is a photo of Warsaw Nike that is described as a "rich, velvet color" and other descriptions include "rich, velvety purple", "rich, royal purple" and "velvety red-violet to purple-violet flowers". And Hummingbrid Farms has this to say: "Why is this plant two different colors? Flower color depends on the amount of light; they look burgundy in direct sun, purple in the shade."

I think Warsaw Nike is as reasonable a guess for this variety as you are going to get!
maximus2015
10 years ago
LOL LOL Yeah, OK. LOL LOL
maximus2015
10 years ago
Gardengal48 Has her PhD. in "Clematisology". LOL LOL
Sue Brunette (formerly known as hockeychik)
10 years ago
yep, it sure looks like the Warsaw Nike I have growing, but have to agree it is really difficult to tell many of them apart
maximus2015
10 years ago
I'll be sure to post the Pic of My Clematis 'Warsaw Nike' when it blooms . . .
Mairead
10 years ago
Here is a picture of the first flower this season on my Warsaw Nike. Maybe it is a trick of the light but now they look exactly like gardengals photo. The photo below was taken on 3rd of June when it was in shade.

This is a picture of my Jackmanii and Warsaw Nike taken on 21st August last year. This Jackmanii has never opened before August.
NHBabs z4b-5a NH
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
How about it being this one - Romantika? The way the petals start curling back soon after opening is standard for this one, and along with the dark color and slightly reddish cast to the purple makes this a strong contender for the OP's unknown.

The color in this photo is a bit paler than reality - It's difficult not to overexpose in this spot in my garden.
buyorsell888
10 years ago
Polish Spirit or Etoile Violette are much more likely than Warsaw Nike.
mnwsgal
10 years ago
As you can see, it is very hard to identify a clematis by a photo as many look alike and we all may see slightly different coloration due to our own computer's interpretation.
User
10 years ago
I second Etoile Violette
Nessdizzle Formally 6a, now 9b Central Florida
10 years ago
I think romantika as well...I am growing a similar clematis (even though I haven't seen one flower since the one that was on when I planted has fallen off) and I forgot the name, but I knew it began with an 'R' and after doing research I feel as if yours(like mine) fit with the Romantika clematis
buyorsell888
10 years ago
Here is Etoile Violette, the buds belong to Betty Corning...