Swamp Leather Flower Clematis crispa
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- KLEM-ah-tiss KRISP-ah
- This plant has high severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Blue jasmine is a semi-woody, perennial, climbing or spreading, twining vine in the buttercup family (Ranunculaceae) native to the central and southeastern United States. It can reach 6 to 10 feet high and 3 to 6 feet wide. The species epithet is a Latin word meaning “tightly curled” and refers to the curling, undulating margins of the sepals.
This plant will flower best in full sun but will tolerate partial shade. Be sure to provide it with acidic soil and consistent moisture like it has in its native habitat is swamps and floodplains. Mulch around the plant to help keep the roots cool and moist.
Showy, fragrant flowers bloom in spring and again in fall with possible periodic blooms during the summer. The vine is heat tolerant and usually dies back to the ground in winter (Type 3). It is less damaged by deer than other clematis and is resistant to black walnut and rabbits.
Blue jasmine can either climb a trellis, fence, wall, or arbor or be unsupported as a ground cover. It requires consistently moist soil, so consider planting near water gardens, rain gardens, or streams. Butterflies, bees and other insects are attracted to the flower, making it a good addition to butterfly, pollinator, and native gardens.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Wilt disease can sometimes be fatal.
VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Annuals, Perennials, Vines, and Groundcovers" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Clematis
- Species:
- crispa
- Family:
- Ranunculaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Central & Southeastern U.S.A.
- Distribution:
- AL , AR , FL , GA , IL , KY , LA , MO , MS , NC , OK , SC , TN , TX , VA
- Wildlife Value:
- Butterflies, bees, and other insects are attracted to the flower. Less damage by deer than other clematis.
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Heat tolerant.
- Climbing Method:
- Twining
- Dimensions:
- Height: 6 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ground Cover
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Poisonous
- Vine
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Climbing
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- High
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Attractive spider-like seed heads each with a silky-plumose tail. Flowers display from June to October.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Blue
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Head
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Bell
- Flower Petals:
- Colored Sepals
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- 1-2 inch blooms in April-August are blue-purple with 4-8 strongly recurved sepals and many stamens.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Obovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Compound stems have 3-5 oval leaflets.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Patio
- Vertical Spaces
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rain Garden
- Water Garden
- Design Feature:
- Screen/Privacy
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Moths
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Black Walnut
- Deer
- Rabbits
- Wet Soil
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
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Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- High
- Poison Symptoms:
- Clematis can cause severe mouth pain and ulcers if eaten. Toxic to dogs, cats, horses. Clinical signs are salivation, vomiting, diarrhea. In humans, symptoms may include dizziness, confusion, fainting, and convulsions. Fatalities are rare, due to the rapid and intense bitter taste and mouth irritation from eating. Gastric lavage is recommended and anti-inflammatory to soothe irritated tissue. Contact dermatitis results in skin redness and burning sensation for some people, gardening gloves are recommended.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- protoanemonin
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- Yes
- Poison Part:
- Leaves
- Sap/Juice
