Clematis: Rouge Cardinal Niobe ?, 1 by ClematisGuru

ClematisGuru wrote:
rouge cardinal holds color longer, but can be a smaller bloom (certainly not a small bloom, but niobe can be HUGE)
niobe can die back after a bloom period but re-establishes fast. Niobe's bloom s get larger and larger with age of plant

factors effecting the fading of a bloom, in addition to the amt of sun, are how long the bloom stays on the vine...if it lasts a long time niobe fades more than rouge cardinal. it has a more pronounced central bar and margin after being on vine a long time.

what keeps the blooms on the vine a long time is protection from wind and ground watering vs all over watering. wind and moisture on the plant effect how long the bloom lingers with out falling apart.

solution? you must grow both

i am sure i have posted this before but this is niobe about 6 years old, bloom lingered a long time...huge huge huge fading to show margins and central bar, both reflecting heritage of plant...but niobe's parentage is unknown, first raised in poland

rouge cardinal opens crimson and fades to burgundy without an obvious margin...rouge c is spawned from ville de lyon

niobe opens deep burgundy and fades to pink with pronounced margin.

based on this if you need to select one, rouge cardinal more reliable and vigorous.

you have to have both....