It would help if you knew the specific cultivar. The common names you have given are not anything that I recognize.

Clematis "Cotton Candy" is a Steffen Clematis ..they are in New York State..I have never heard of "Bubble Gum"..Steffen is also the ones who introduced "Sunset", "Perrin's Pride" and many others..I haven't seen it available at any websites that I frequent..goodluck...Jeanne

Interesting Jeanne. I assumed the two names given were common names of the clematis. I see that Cotton Candy is listed on COTW with no picture and limited info. I googled it and found info about it on the American Clematis Society timeline linked below. It appears it was introduced by the Steffens who were really into clematis propogation in the 1980s. They got out of the business in 1990 after loosing 15 million dollars after using a bad fungicide.

Here is a link that might be useful: ACS timeline

Meant to spell propagation correctly. Also the tragedy struck in 1990 and the Steffens finally left the business in 1995. What a shame since they had such a huge number of new varieties that were probably lost due to the fungicide incident and after investing so much money in their new facilities.

Yes..isn't that sad Miguel.Such tragic loss for the Steffens that destroyed their business,hopes and dreams...I would have sued the company that made the defective fungicide!!..they were only able to save a few of their new introductions and lost everything...they did bring some beauties to this world tho!!...Jeanne

Thanks for the quick responces. I will try getting the specific names..it may take me a while but I will repost. Thanks
Donna

Donna, Cotton Candy is the cultivar name unless you were using it as a description of the clematis. Cotton Candy was introduced in 1991 according to COTW. However like was pointed out by Jeanne, it is not one that she nor I have ever seen offered on any of the sites that offer clematis. I couldn't find any clematis listed on COTW that went by the name of Bubble Gum.

Jeanne, what kills me is that according to the timeline, "The SteffenÂs have [had] the largest commercial collection of more than 300 species & 185 different cultivars." I had no clue that there were 300 species of clematis. What a great resource they would have been for such a multitude of species clematis! What a loss!!!

Donna,
I did a little research and came up with this address information for Steffens on the web. This was what was available as of 1998. There is contact information there and you may possibly reach them and be able to find out if they can direct you to some other growers of the clematis you are looking for. I am copying and pasting it here because it is very far down on the page that the listing was on and will take you quite a bit of scrolling down to find it.

Good luck in your search.
Tracy

Here is the info from Ibiblio.com
STEFFEN'S CLEMATIS
P.O. Box 184, 1259 Fairport Rd
Fairport, NY 14450
Phone: (716) 377-1655, FAX (716) 377-1893
Comments: Rumor has it (as of Dec 95) they are out of business again. Specialize in hybrid and species clematis with cultural information. Superb but expensive. ($2)
Quality: Excellent
Price: $$$
Service: unknown
Variety: Excellent

Good sleuthing Tracy. I called the number and it is no longer in service. Perhaps Donna will try writing and confirming they are out of business. Both your info and that on the ACS timeline suggest that they went out of business in 1995. I am going to contact Ellen Horning of Senecca Hills Perennials in NY and see if she knows anything about this.

Thank you sir! I get it from all those detective novels I used to love reading. Good idea on contactin Ellen and Senecca, Miguel. They would probably be the best to go to for info.

I did a reverse address lookup in the whitepages and there is now a landscaping company at Steffen Clematis' address. Called Sherwood Landscaping and Irrigation. The phone number there is (585) 377-1230. They may have information on the previous owners of Steffen's. I also looked up the surname Steffen and their are tons of listings for the family.

Wow..........you all are so great! I will have to get with my friend to see if he can be more specific and then get crackin. I live just outside of Cincinnati so the cold is coming so I will have plenty of time for research in the next few months. Thanks again to everyone. I have to get packing I am going on a much need vacation and I am not ready.

Donna

Donna, I think you peaked our curiosity. I know I was thinking I would love to see what they looked like and started nosing around. Let us know what you find at the end of the line on this clematis search! Have a great vacation. Wish I were going somewhere warm. I am north of you close to Lake Erie. The cold has us turning on the furnace at night and bundling up in the morning. Brrrr!

Tracy

Tracy, I will have to start calling you Mrs. Marple. I love the mystery sleuths myself including your namesake from now on as far as I am concerned, Hercule Poirot, Sherlock Holmes, and others.

Heard from Ellen at Seneca Hills and she has never heard of the Steffens facility either. She is giving a lecture in Rochester and is going to ask around there as well, but feels certain that this business no longer exists.

Good vacation Donna. I am packing up for a week in December and going on a Caribbean cruise visiting various ports.

Ah Miguel, you make me blush! I may now have to change my GW Name! Always happy to investigate when it comes to clematis. It really is becoming a bit of an obsession. My favorites series of detectives are of Dr. Kay Scarpetta. A little on the morbid side but truly make your brain turn on. I also love the Dan Brown books. Another one that gets the mind churning!

Didn't mean to do that Tracy. I love the Kay Scarpetta books also and have read the Dan Brown books too! My newest mystery infatuation has been with a British series on Arts and Entertainment Channel called Midsomer Murders. Those stories keep you guessing until the end as to who did it!

I love all those British Murder Mystery shows too Miguel!!..Are you watching the Langley Murders?..I watch them on PBS and BBC channels..love Miss Marple,Helen Mirren in her series too...Jeanne

Jeanne, good to see others who like them. I have watched a couple of the Langley Murder shows but I am having a hard time getting into them. I tend to watch a lot of BBC America, PBS, and A&E and the murder mystery shows they have on.

Jeanne, did you try contacting the guy who made the copper trellises for me? Just wondering if he is still around since it has been a while since I dealt with him.

No Miguel..I didn't I found two at my local hangout Nursery..and he made me a great deal on them 40% off!!..So I bought them and Gary and I are going to pick them up tomorrow with his truck..they are HUGE!!..Will email you a pic..btw..I posted that white clematis for Diana so if you can go to her post and see if we can give it a name...thanks hon...Jeanne

We expect pictures when they are installed Jeanne. Great luck on the deal. End of the season is a great way to get deals since owners are wanting to move merchandise and not carry it over to the next year.