I have preference for vigorous tall going sorts ... if I had to choose just one, it would be the classy 'Ville de Lyon' (photo from the net) ..

'Jackmanii Superba', what can I say!

'Perle d'Azur', that HEIGHT and wonderful blue color! (photo from the net)

'Venosa Violacea' another gem and 'Blue Light' a remarkable outstanding double, 'Diamantina' more than a bit glorious as well, sooo many beauties and a myriad of newer varieties not yet available in Canada. :(

I think, I read that 'Arabella' has become the global best selling clematis.

How could I have forgotten about "Arabella" as I have more of this variety in my garden than another as it is so easy to find room room for it (I almost treat it as a ground cover). (Has anyone been able to find the white version??)

Montana, cirrhosa and any viticella. (I have Perle d'azure). Not wild about the big bloomers.

Both @FrozeBudd_z3/4 and @floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK mention "Perle d'Azur". I did try it many years ago and it slowly left this world :(. I will give it another go.

For sure good choices @gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9). (With a little extra protection I think I could reliably grow 'Sieboldi').

Have a couple of strong runners up as well :-))

Not allowed ;), at least not yet.

Ok, I have my three:

• Raindance
• Arabella
• ROGUCHI (vigorous and floriferous)

Hmm...a bit strange that all three choices are non vining.

Rouge, I again have florida 'Sieboldii' on order, having lost it several times for soil issues, the emerging stems of this clematis are finer and more prone to being damaged, at least when it comes to being burnt off by manure, lol. I must also again try with 'Princess Diana' ... 'Multi Blue' up and wilted while still in its pot, so another one of those ... 'Josephine' arrived mislabeled, shall try again, I understand is capable of flowering decent well when hard pruned ... another 'Blue Light' (this one is rather something else!) ... 'Amethyst Beauty' and Rosemoor' (a red that can obtain some height) ... Vancouver 'Blue Lion', a new double form for '26 ... and lastly, Passiflora 'Fata Confetto', a herbaceous kind to set against the south foundation wall, is worth the try!

I was about 12 years old when I became aware of the hardiness of large flowered clematis ... zone 3 sooo drastically limits the selection of hardy flowering vines and shrubby broadleaf evergreen beauties, that I pounced upon hardy clematis of many sorts, is truly of the most spectacular of cold hardy plants ... well, lilacs as well, but bloom period is all too brief!

I think I would include Rebecca clematis as a top 3 except that I have never got to survive past 2...maybe 3 seasons.

Just curious if anyone has a thriving Rebecca that is at least 5 years old?

Hi Nicole, indeed you have the lovely 'Jackmanii Superba!" ... I had been searching for it for long years, but always it proving to be mislabeled, I did though come across a planting of many at a park where I took a few cuttings that had refused to take root ... then, in September stumbling across it at a nursery 30 mins away and snapped up two and soon one up and wilted, gggrrr, clematis can be so finicky!

A newer introduction I'd love to have is 'Grunwald', is available in the US, though apparently not yet in Canada, it's a glorious tall grower and free bloomer!

Seeing mention of "Jackmanii" brings to mind the oldest clematis we have in our garden is the single specimen "Polish Spirit". It is over 20 years established and has always been reliable i.e. healthy and floriferous. I kind of foregt about it as it has...just (almost) always been there.

Here's another one paired with my "Fairy" rose. I'll have to look up the label....it's a good contrast color...

Note: My 2 Ville De Lyons look like deep burgundy Niobe. Not a bad thing....they keep coming back.

Rouge, I've never grown 'Polish Spirit', though a friend has one that profusely flowers upon the entrance of his home.

Nicole, could that possibly be 'Hagley Hybrid' planted with 'The Fairy' rose? ... I love 'The Fairy' , such a bloom machine and so hardy, this year I'm gonna order 'Lovely Fairy' which is a sport of the original.

@FrozeBudd_z3/4....My clematis has the purple stamens...then a tuft of off white in the very center. ???

Here's a photo for comparison to 'Hagley Hybrid' ...

And a similar variety 'Pink Fantasy'... I have grown both and prefer 'PF'