Lois, I got one at our local HV last year because I loved the very bluish purple bloom. Bought a second one when they went on sale. Both made it thru our rough winter, have multiple vines this spring, look healthy.
Marlene

Lois,
Mine isn't as much purple as it is dark blue. Almost electric blue. Very pretty color. I should probably move it to a sunnier spot, right now it gets only early morning sun and doesn't bloom as much as I'd like it to.

It won the RHS Award of Garden Merit in 2002. It is hardy, moderately vigorous, free flowering. Don't plant in shade. Pruning group 3. (All according to Mary Toomey)

It sounds like a nice clematis :)

Thanks for all the good information and I will probably go back on Friday. I need to check the price as it was raining and the store was ready to close so I just quickly checked to see what they had available. That was the only one that I was not familiar with.
Another excuse to go clematis shopping again.
Lois

I purchased a small Rhapsody Clematis last Fall. This Spring it just took off like gangbusters. it put up several more stems from the ground. It was covered in blooms from the ground up to the top. The flowers were a rich blue with a hint of Purple in them. It had so many blooms and is still covered with them after almost three weeks. Love It!!!!

Rhapsody produces early here which is why some treat it as a group 2 (I believe). The color is fantastic. There are some real blue tones at times.

{{gwi:227060}}