The type 2's are all large flowering hybrids of very mixed parentage and tend to be the most prone to clematis wilt. Type 3's - not all but many - have a more refined/limited parentage or are species clems, often viticellas - and are far less susceptible to CW. The increased disease resistance and ease of pruning (hard pruning to the second set of leaf buds each spring) seems to be far easier on novice growers.

I am a very experienced clematis grower and prefer the type 3's over the 2's. I actually prefer the smaller flowers most type 3's sport and the profusion of flowers over a long period. And I appreciate the ease of pruning....in fact, I prune my type 2's as if they were 3's because it is fast and simple.

Hmm, I figured that type 2's were reblooming so I'd end up with a longer bloom time!

Type 2s do rebloom ! I think it just depends on your patience and tolerance. Personally, I prefer 3s because I love large vigorous plants . I grow type twos but I do so knowing that it'll be a few years for a good show . And one day they'll look great and the next day I could go out and see it has wilt . But I don't obsess over them , I know that's their habit. They can be so beautiful! I don't think they are tricky or anything I just keep my standards low. ;)

if they aren't your favorite color , they are easy to tuck in out of the way or you could gift them to a fellow gardener.

i was considering asking about returning some box plants to sams club . I bought a mix of butterfly weed and black eye Susan's and none came up yet. I need to remember not to buy those when I'm itching to buy plants !

Not all type 2's rebloom. And the second bloom is often sporadic and far less prolific than the initial spring/early summer bloom period. And typically both bloom periods are relatively short-lived, a few weeks at most, whereas most type 3's bloom for several months.

Ohhhhhhh well I guess I'm going to switch to more type 3's then. I'll put the 2's in the back of the garden where they can bloom or not however they feel. ;)

I like the summer bloom of the type 3's as well as the ease of care - healthy, vigorous and the pruning gets done when I have time, any time between hard freeze and when the buds swell in spring. I have just a few type 2's and I have never seen a second bloom on any of them.

I like both 2s and 3s. As others have mentioned, they each have their own appeal. And you can treat 2s like 3s if you want -- you'll just miss out on the earlier blooms.

Personally, I wouldn't be without type 2s like HF Young -- one of my favorite of all clems. That early bloom and gorgeous color do it for me every spring. :-)

I confess I love the larger blooms of the type 2's. If they wilt, not to worry. They come back strong as ever. And they actually look better in my small garden than the 3's.

I have Ramona and I think it is a type 2 not a 3. I have a lot of clematis and have a few group 2 scattered thru them for earlier bloom. I do find that some of my type 2 does get clematis wilt.

I do not have Ramona.

Elsa Spath is a favorite as it is a prolific and long bloomer in my garden.

I finally bought clematis online 3 weeks ago. Now what does the local Farm Supply have in but Ramona!! I had her about 20 years ago. Something about the color and petal texture cause me to take a deeper breath. So very pretty.

Ramona. Color on my monitor is a good match.

Beautiful!!!