I posted the thread below in the vines forum and it was suggested that I check out the clematis forum. Rather than post everything again, here's a link to the thread that has pictures:
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/864297/
Basically I have what I'm almost certain is a clematis. The blooms and foliage look like c. terniflora but my vine blooms late winter/early spring in my 7b/8a climate like a c. armandii. The speciman in the photo was rudely yanked from the ground (thanks dad!), but it appears I have another with the exact same foliage about 12 ft. away.
Clematis ID please!
looks like clematis paul farges?
Thanks for the reply, niobe! My vine definitely looks like that variety, but the bloom time is wrong: paul farges is mid to late summer while mine is late winter/early spring...
I think I'm going to try to find a list of clematis that is ordered by bloom time (surely one exists, right?).
your bloom time might be different in the zone you live in? if it is in a warm microclimate on your property?
could be pamela or a flammula also. good luck.
is it a climber or a sprawler? may be some clues there.
Have you tried searching Clematis on the Web?
http://www.clematis.hull.ac.uk/index.cfm
Christine
Thanks so much for the link: I'm off to search!
Just had a look-see, and I'm going to guess C. aristata - here's the COTW link. What do you think? - http://www.clematis.hull.ac.uk/new-clemdetail.cfm?dbkey=1075
C.