Never heard of Potus. Very nice. I am always interested in clems that grow well in hot climates. Do you have it in full sun?
Pirl...I never would have guessed Omoshiro was your favorite!

Florida sieboldii. Reliably gives me a second bloom November through December; burns leaves, but otherwise shrugs off our scorching summers; and has beautiful enough blooms to regularly stop traffic driving by the house.

Debra - I can see why it's your favorite! It is absolutely stunning.

It's carefree, and it does very well in drier, part-shade conditions. I can always count on masses of huge blooms from this one; even in challenging drought years when others barely hold on.

Really like that hosta at the base, Chelle. They look good together.

Thanks, Debra.

It's a tranquil spot amid the chaos of the rest of the gardens.

Beautiful, Chelle. I wish my 'Proteus' would look like yours!

How long have you had it, Arlene? Mine has been in that spot for close to a decade. (Wow...how time flies! ) When I first planted it, it only made a couple of blooms at a time. I do remember that.

Since the summer of 2006. It arrived with the label of 'Hagley Hybrid' but it is 'Proteus'. I moved it to a sunnier spot and yet the flowers are an uninspiring mauve to my eyes. The photos were so terrible that the only shot I have of it is in a collage (upper right) to show me which plants I put in front of the 'Jackmanii' at the compost, with the hope it would grow half as well...but it hasn't.

Are you looking for one with a different color then, or just more robust growth and plentiful blooms from the plant you have now?

Perhaps it's too close to your wonderfully large and beautiful Jackmanii? Gorgeous pictures of that one in the DB, BTW.

Originally I wanted Hagley Hybrid and believed it was what I had until mine bloomed and was identified as Proteus. I do have enough clematises (wince) so it's not that I "need" any particular color. I just wished it had been as lovely as yours and some of the others on the database. Yes, robust is what I want.

I'll probably be moving it anyhow so, with the addition of compost and manure, maybe it will imitate yours in 2014 (though I doubt it).

Thanks for the compliment on Jackmanii.

Proteus is way prettier than Hagley Hybrid, IMHO. I got six of them instead of what I ordered and really wanted...Markham's Pink. I finally bit the bullet and ordered some of the latter from a $deluxe$ supplier this spring. I just had to have it.

Once I bought a clematis in a box showing a solid colored flower and Liberation ended up being the true name - not a solid color at all. I've probably only had 6 mistakes with the 100 clematises I bought and most were good mistakes - better than what I thought I was getting.

That Proteus is gorgeous!
And the florida sieboldii. too! I have tried it two times and no vines. I think I remember being inspired by your picture. It really "lovesyourhouse"
Pirl, 6 mistakes and most of them good! Did you only know they were mistakes after the bloom or were they shipping mistakes. I had one from a $$$ vendor that made me a bit grumpy.

I agree with you, Anna.

I didn't know they were the wrong clematises until they bloomed but only Sweet Autumn clematis was a disappointment* and that came from a co-op in 2007.

* I say that in the high hopes that Proteus will someday look like Chelle's.

The expensive ones have always been right for me. I hope you got a replacement or a total refund.

It just dawned on me that I forgot to mention that my Proteus was a mislabeled plant, too. It came with a tag that said Blue Moon, so for years I called it either that or Clair de Lune. They are very similar...

My first Dr. Ruppel had a different name on the label as well. So did Ramona.

As for Claire de Lune, I call it Blue Moon, the original name Evison gave it.

Maybe it's a difference in location but I see Blue Moon as very pale lavender/close to white and love it.

that is so lovely!

Thanks, Anna. It's one of my top 50 favorite clematises. (Smiling)

pirl said:Thanks, Anna. It's one of my top 50 favorite clematises. (Smiling)