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Solitary Virgin's Bower Clematis integrifolia

Other Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
KLEM-ah-tiss in-teg-ree-FOH-lee-uh
This plant has high severity poison characteristics.
See below
Description

Bush clematis is a shrubby, woody, perennial in the Ranunculaceae (buttercup) family and native to central Europe, Russia, and China. Its name derives from the Greek word klēmatis, meaning brushwood or broken branches, perhaps owing to the fragile stems of this genus.

Bush clematis is not fussy about pH but prefers a moist, well-drained, loamy soil high in organic matter. Select a site with full sun for best blooming; if the site is too shady, the plant may sprawl more and need staking. Mulch to keep the roots cool and to retain moisture. Hard pruning in early spring is recommended. Propagate by division, seed, or stem cutting. 

Unlike many clematis, this plant does not climb. It has an upright, spreading habit. It will grow 1 to 3 feet high and 2 to 3 feet wide. Plant it in a container, a meadow, or along a walkway. Add it to an Asian, cottage, or rock garden. Use it in a mass planting or a border. It attracts bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and songbirds. 

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  Occasional scale insects, whiteflies, earwigs, and aphids. Wilt, powdery mildew, rust, fungal spots, and stem cankers may occur.

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:
  • 'Alba'
    Pure white flowers
  • 'Blue Ribbons'
    large, 1.75" indigo blue flowers, up to three times larger than typical
  • 'Hanajina'
    Purple; white; pink flowers
  • 'Rosea'
    violet-rose, bell-shaped flowers are slightly scented and nodding
  • 'Rose Colored Glasses'
    Purply pink flowers
'Alba', 'Blue Ribbons', 'Hanajina', 'Rosea', 'Rose Colored Glasses'
Tags:
#hummingbird friendly#showy flowers#deciduous#poisonous#full sun tolerant#white flowers#shrub#purple flowers#pink flowers#blue flowers#woody#spring flowers#cottage garden#mass planting#moist soil#mounding#well-drained soil#rich soils#summer flowers#lavender flowers#groundcover#rock garden#border planting#pollinator plant#courtyard garden#Asian garden#showy seedheads#border front#walkway planting#vine#butterfly friendly#partial shade tolerant#problem for cats#problem for dogs#bee friendly#problem for horses#container plant#dense growth#perennial#bell-shaped flowers
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Alba'
    Pure white flowers
  • 'Blue Ribbons'
    large, 1.75" indigo blue flowers, up to three times larger than typical
  • 'Hanajina'
    Purple; white; pink flowers
  • 'Rosea'
    violet-rose, bell-shaped flowers are slightly scented and nodding
  • 'Rose Colored Glasses'
    Purply pink flowers
'Alba', 'Blue Ribbons', 'Hanajina', 'Rosea', 'Rose Colored Glasses'
Tags:
#hummingbird friendly#showy flowers#deciduous#poisonous#full sun tolerant#white flowers#shrub#purple flowers#pink flowers#blue flowers#woody#spring flowers#cottage garden#mass planting#moist soil#mounding#well-drained soil#rich soils#summer flowers#lavender flowers#groundcover#rock garden#border planting#pollinator plant#courtyard garden#Asian garden#showy seedheads#border front#walkway planting#vine#butterfly friendly#partial shade tolerant#problem for cats#problem for dogs#bee friendly#problem for horses#container plant#dense growth#perennial#bell-shaped flowers
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Clematis
    Species:
    integrifolia
    Family:
    Ranunculaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Woody
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Seed
    Stem Cutting
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Central Europe to Russia and China
    Wildlife Value:
    Attracts Pollinators, rarely browsed by herbivores
    Dimensions:
    Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Ground Cover
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Shrub
    Vine
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Dense
    Erect
    Mounding
    Prostrate
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Medium
    Texture:
    Medium
  • 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:
    High Organic Matter
    Loam (Silt)
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Alkaline (>8.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Available Space To Plant:
    12 inches-3 feet
    NC Region:
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Gray/Silver
    Green
    Fruit Value To Gardener:
    Good Dried
    Showy
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Fruit Type:
    Achene
    Fruit Description:
    plumose, ornamentally-attractive, silvery-green seed head
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Blue
    Pink
    Purple/Lavender
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Head
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Bell
    Urn
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Colored Sepals
    Flower Size:
    1-3 inches
    Flower Description:
    Solitary, nodding, bell-shaped flowers with slightly twisted violet to blue sepals and creamy white anthers.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Smooth
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Opposite
    Leaf Shape:
    Elliptical
    Lanceolate
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Description:
    Leaves are ovate to oblong, sessile, entire, conspicuously veined and form a dense clump.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Container
    Walkways
    Landscape Theme:
    Asian Garden
    Cottage Garden
    Rock Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Mass Planting
    Attracts:
    Bees
    Butterflies
    Hummingbirds
    Songbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Black Walnut
    Deer
    Rabbits
    Problems:
    Poisonous to Humans
    Problem for Cats
    Problem for Children
    Problem for Dogs
    Problem for Horses
  • 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:
    Flowers
    Leaves
    Sap/Juice