Sorry Lilsprout, I certainly can not. I only have ongoing experience with a few named New England aster cultivars, though I have used "fall asters", latter with a New York aster or sometimes part New York ancestry. Speculation re the last picture: on the basis of brown disc florets and the (small) number of ray florets, it's a New York hybrid. I'm also assuming that there are more short New York aster cultivars available than New England ones, the latter plant typically being taller. However,'Purple Dome' is a New England cultivar. it's thick stem fits, as does it's yellow flat central disc (disc florets). I've not checked it's leaves, which to be typically New England, should be hairy (not smooth).

I went out and cut the nasty dead stuff out of the top figuring I'd prune the right way toward the end of the month, thinking I'd make it easier on myself later. Then I read this thread, went by the consensus of posters' advice, went back out and pruned hard. 1 Polish Spirit and 2 Mme. Julia Correvon, prune 3, read the vendor's info on them. I cut pretty close to the ground all the stems of Polish Spirit, didn't see any buds on them like I did the Julia's. But I think the leaves might be more reddish. Julia 2 feet or so like the vendor said, didn't always choose the best bud sets, but went for uniform height. But that's done. Thanks for the thread; it was helpful. I'm not too worried. If Polish Spirit goes to clematis heaven, I don't care at this point, but it did well last year. I think it will put more stems up from underground.

1. You are up on your clematis culture!! Supposedly they should put their energy into roots the first couple of years. But... (a) if the planting hole was well amended (compost) and (b) the plant was vigorous when planted (not a 3" wally special), and (c) if it was planted early the prior year rather than fall, and (d) if it is a group 2 and you see nice fat buds along the stem, then go for it and just trim up lightly! 2. Technically, never too late. Whenever they are cut back, they will just re-start their cycle, so you are only altering their schedule. I sometimes cut mine back completely after the early bloom if the foliage is starting to get ratty to get a fresh start for September. 3. Not my department. I have done so though. Usually I cut them back just before bloom. That's usually when I first see them in this snow-covered tundra I call home. (still have a teeny mound of snow left as of yesterday last look-see)

I am well aware of how aggressive this clematis is. I made the mistake of listening to a suggestion that I use it as groundcover in a certain situation. I changed my mind about five minutes later, but have been digging out (with a spade, not a trowel) the seedlings ever since. I think this obelisk will be a one-season thing. I am wary of creating too many fussy plantings that need surgical precision to control lest they become landmines. What if I wanted to go away some September? Or the unsuspecting next owner didn't know how important it was to remove every blossom before it went to seed?