Deep Purple Clematis with four petaled flowers

[GrannyNanny]

Hi -- Another mystery from Granny Nanny-- I have two clematis vines in pots, side by side, that I thought were both jackmanii. It turns out that one of them has larger, six petaled flowers (or in some cases five), and the other one has slightly smaller flowers with four petals. They are also a slightly different shade of dark purple. Does a Jackmanii ever bloom with just four petals, or is this something else, and if so, what? I will get out and take pics as soon as we get a day without rain; we got four inches overnight last night, and things are SO soggy! Any help you can provide will be welcome. Phyllis

[paul_in_mn]

GN - I have Jackmanii with different petal counts between flowers.

[GrannyNanny]

Thanks, Paul. At first I thought it was just a natural variation of Jackmanii, but when I took a closer look, the flowers on one of them are ALL four-petaled, and the other one has mostly five and six petals per flower, with just an occasional one with four. Also, as I said, the two vines have noticeably different shades of purple. When I'm into our new house, and have time to be a hostess, I'll want you to take the short trip from your house to mine, and you can see it for yourself. Thanks again -- Phyllis

[kHT]

I agree with Paul on the number of petals on this one, from 4 to 6. The color is also can range depends on the soil condition. Ours in the front has a deeper shade of purple than the one in the back which is sounded by acidy soil due to the pine needles dropping at her feet. The one in the front gets more lime, it's in a bed that we lime.

[eastwood2007]

Yes, my jackmanii can vary year to year....sometimes the flowers are large and 5-6 petals and sometimes they are all 4 petals.

[thy]

If you were in Denmark or close I would say you had clem. President.
Just slightly different but have 6 petals

[GrannyNanny]

One of those purple clematis is blooming: it is one with larger leaves and larger flowers, while the other one, with much smaller leaves but a ton of them, has not yet bloomed. Here is the one blooming now. Is it a jackmanii or not? (Pia -- I have one called The President, but I know which one that is.) Phyllis

[Bob Scott]

The center of my Jackmani is white. Those in the picture have a strong red to them.
Nothing more then the center can be the subtle difference from one clematis to another.

[kHT]

Need a shot when it's fully open, please. Deb would know, here is her site.

http://www.silverstarvinery.com/default.asp

[GrannyNanny]

Success! The one I posted pics of above is "Multi Blue" -- has a very large and "fuzzy" looking center, and six or more large petals. The blue one with the four petals, with which I started this thread, is "Mrs. Cholmondeley". Mrs. C. looks very much like my Jackmanii, but with larger flowers. I have a pic of the two of them side by side, which I'll post as soon as it's off my camera and into the computer. Phyllis