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Yam-Leaved Clematis Clematis terniflora

Previously known as:

  • Clematis cuspidatum
  • Clematis dioscoreifolia
  • Clematis maximowicziana
Phonetic Spelling
KLEM-ah-tiss tern-ih-FLOR-uh
This plant has high severity poison characteristics.
See below
Description

Japanese clematis is a weedy, twining perennial vine in the buttercup family Ranunculaceae that is native to Japan, Korea and central and southern China. The epithet is Latin for “having flowers in groups of three.”

While it can be beautiful, Japanese clematis is a vigorous grower in full sun or partial shade and spreads by self-seeding, layering, and runners. It may rapidly reach 15 to 30 feet high and wide. It has escaped cultivation to invade forest edges, right-of-ways, and areas along streams and roads. It climbs other vegetation, forming dense blankets that block sunlight to the plants underneath. The showy white flowers appear in late summer. It is considered an invasive species, particularly in the East, including North Carolina, Alabama, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey,  South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.

Because it is an aggressive weed, it is not recommended for any garden. 

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: This is a weedy and poisonous species, so alternatives should be considered for landscaping. Please see the suggestions in the left-hand column. This plant is listed as invasive by the NC Invasive Plant Council. Common problems include aphids, vine weevils, leaf spot, stem rot, and powdery mildew.

VIDEO created by Grant L. Thompson for “Trees, Shrubs, and Woody Vines for Landscaping” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Horticulture at Iowa State University.

 

More information on Clematis.

Profile Video:
See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#showy flowers#full sun tolerant#fragrant flowers#fall flowers#white flowers#shrub#fall interest#high maintenance#fast growing#aggressive#summer flowers#deer resistant#cream flowers#self-seeding#showy seedheads#flowers late summer#vine#arbor#partial shade tolerant#problem for cats#problem for dogs#problem for horses#black walnut toxicity tolerant#weed#landscape plant sleuths course
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#showy flowers#full sun tolerant#fragrant flowers#fall flowers#white flowers#shrub#fall interest#high maintenance#fast growing#aggressive#summer flowers#deer resistant#cream flowers#self-seeding#showy seedheads#flowers late summer#vine#arbor#partial shade tolerant#problem for cats#problem for dogs#problem for horses#black walnut toxicity tolerant#weed#landscape plant sleuths course
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Clematis
    Species:
    terniflora
    Family:
    Ranunculaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Woody
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Layering
    Seed
    Stem Cutting
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Central & South China to Japan.
    Distribution:
    It has naturalized in many parts of the USA, particularly in the East and Midwest.
    Climbing Method:
    Twining
    Dimensions:
    Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 15 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Ground Cover
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Perennial
    Shrub
    Vine
    Weed
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Semi-evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Climbing
    Dense
    Spreading
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    High
    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:
    Clay
    Loam (Silt)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Available Space To Plant:
    12-24 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Cream/Tan
    White
    Fruit Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Fruit Type:
    Achene
    Fruit Description:
    Plume-like seed heads (clusters of 5-6 fruits connected at the heads and each having a long white tail). The large achenes are ovoid and flattened in shape; they are thinly covered with appressed silky hairs.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Cream/Tan
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Panicle
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Fragrant
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Fall
    Flower Shape:
    Cross
    Star
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Colored Sepals
    Flower Size:
    1-3 inches
    Flower Description:
    Flowers bloom in late summer (August) to fall (October) and are produced in terminal branching panicles of 3-12 flowers. Each monoecious flower has four pure white, narrow, petal-like sepals, approximately 50 stamens, and 5-10 pistils with long, plumose styles
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Semi-evergreen
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Glossy
    Leathery
    Leaf Type:
    Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Opposite
    Leaf Shape:
    Cordate
    Deltoid
    Elliptical
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Width:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    3-5 leaflets with apically round and basally cordate leaflets can be toothed on young plants but are entire when mature. The long petioles of these compound leaves can lean or bend around neighboring objects for support; tendrils are not present.
  • Bark:
    Bark Color:
    Light Brown
    Surface/Attachment:
    Shredding
    Bark Description:
    longitudinally shredded bark on mature stems
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Description:
    Shallowly-grooved stems grow from a tap root, starting out green and developing light brown, longitudinally shredded bark on mature stems.
  • Landscape:
    Attracts:
    Bees
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Black Walnut
    Deer
    Diseases
    Insect Pests
    Problems:
    Poisonous to Humans
    Problem for Cats
    Problem for Children
    Problem for Dogs
    Problem for Horses
    Weedy
  • 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