From Mary Toomey's book: Timber Press Pocket Guide to Clematis, which I highly recommend, btw.

Best reds:

Allanah
Crimson King
Corona
Ernest Markham
Gravetye Beauty
Hania
Jackmanii Rubra
Madame Julia Correvon
Maureen
Niobe
Rouge Cardinal
Ruutel
Ville de Lyon
Westerplatte
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Personally, Westerplatte, from everything I have read and heard, sounds like an all-around great clematis.

Janet,
Thanks for the list!Westerplatte looks ammmmazing !
I saw Niobe and Ruutel ...4"pots for $5 in Lowes but didnt wanna buy since I need a real red! I live in a townhome and have limited space so cant experiment with perenials!

Do you have westerplate? Someone seeing it first time, will they think "oh thats a nice *red*"?

I have never seen Westerplatte in any nursery..so where can I buy for cheap and best quality?
Thanks again ...!
Kris ...exton ,pa

They are all pink/purple red. Not true carnation or salvia red. Now, many people do consider them red. As a former florist, I don't.

Miquel's texensis comes the closest.

Even if Westerplatte isnt red-red I love it...

Wonder if its Full Sun, since I can only plant in pots in a open west exposure:(

Allanah is the furthest thing from red to me and more fushcia in color in my estimation. Madame Julia Correvon looks pink in my garden and not red at all. Niobe is more of a black red to burgandy color as is Gravetye Beauty.

Like BorS, I don't think there are any true red clematis that I have ever seen. I do have a texensis that comes closest to red that I have yet to see.

Gravetye Beauty
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Texensis
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Julia Correvon
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Niobe
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The center flower is that of Kermesina which looks reddish to burgandy.
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Allanah
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Tks nck..!

How does Niobe perform in full sun (western full sun from noon)? Or is it strictly part sun?

Kris, mine is planted in an area where it gets no direct sun and more or less dappled sun at various times of the day as it is planted under a crape myrtle tree. The darker nature of the flower colors tends to stay more intense for me planted this way. Not sure how hot and fierce the sun is in your PA garden so all I can do is offer how I grow it.

I have 'Niobe' planted on the southeast side of the house, direct sun from sunrise until about 2 pm, does beautifully. Flower color doesn't fade much.

- Steve