I can't post a picture for some reason. Anyone else having a issue?

Ville de Lyon is a late blooming, type 3 LFH. It would be very unusual for this to be blooming so early in the season!

Well I posted a picture on a Facebook page I joined, since it wouldn't let me post here. I did leave some vine, since I didn't know who, or what type it was.

Try reducing the image size and then try reposting in the comments. If you don’t know how to reduce image size, just download the photo again from FB and upload here since FB will have reduced the image size.

That worked! Ty NHbabs!

It is always difficult to judge from photos for me, but my VdL never does that type of petal curl, and the middle of the petals are clearly a lighter pink while the outer edges are a deep red-pink. And it does seem early, even as much warmer that you are than I, since mine is a summer bloomer. So I would look at plants that are type two prune, and if you have a list of what you ordered or planted to give a list of possibilities maybe we can help narrow it down.

Here is mine, though the difference in color across the petal doesn’t show well.

That's exactly how this one is doing. Deeper pink on outer edge like lipstick. Donahue's thinks it's ville de Lyon. My once blooming roses are blooming, and we've already had some 90° weather. So I'm calling it VDL! Thanks for that perfect description, it sealed the id!

Weather doesn't have much of an impact on when any type of clematis flowers. That is determined by whether or not it blooms on old growth (type 1), new growth (type 3) or a combination (type 2). Hotter than normal temps may encourage a slightly earlier bloom season but only by a few weeks, not months!! It is even very early for most type 2's to be blooming, let alone a type 3!!

There are several similarly colored type 2's that I would consider likely before Ville de Lyon - Niobe, Bourbon, Westerplatte.......

When it blooms again . I will take more pictures. Bourbon is the only one that is alittle similar. Definitely not the other two.

Why did Donahue's say weather affected it , if it doesn't.?

'Niobe'

Not radically different from yours :-)

Weather can have an influence....but not to the extent of pushing the bloom season forward by several months!! Type 3's rarely start blooming anywhere before midsummer - June to July. If Ville de Lyon, that would be a good 2-3 months early!! Beneficent weather might push it forward 2-3 weeks.....not 2-3 months :-)

I've been having warm weather since January I think.

Niobe , if the picture is correct, looks like it's center bar is redder than rest of petal. Mine is not like that. Mine is all one color with edges being slightly darker.

That does look like mine, so you have likely IDed it correctly.

Ok we will put other on hold. The only other thing I can add is from what I can see it blooms on new growth.

This is a different one. Only has the one bloom.

Is this piilu? Or Nelly Moser?

It looks like this is an odd bloom. I just got the one. The rest of the plant is sending out lots of growth. I think it maybe a type two, and I didn't leave the old growth for it. I know, it shouldn't be blooming yet, right? Freaky, freaky,

Alana, your pics look like others I've seen of Ville de Lyon. It's really beautiful. I have one I bought as a bare root in a bag at Walmart a year or two ago. It hasn't bloomed yet but I'm really looking forward to it. From what I read it's very vigorous. At least I hope it's Ville de Lyon ...they called it " City of Lyon." Same color bloom on the package.

Niobe is one I had some years ago and it seemed much darker...a very deep, burgundy red. Have a new one coming in from Brushwood soon. Your picture is beautiful, Gardengal.

Thanks Linda! Do you have any thoughts on the new one I posted?

Well, here's what I've been calling my "Nelly Moser". Mine seems like it has a harder contrast than yours.

It not open all the way. But I don't know. It's between those two. It's what I ordered. It's a tiny flower for sure. Maybe it's next flush it will show better what it is.

Alittle later picture.

I figured it was Nelly because of the purple /red anthers! Thanks Buyorsell888! I also had the other figured for VDL, even though it was blooming early, because looks were too spot on , on everything I could find. Thanks for saying you thought so as well.