Clematis virginiana
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Clematis canadensis
- Phonetic Spelling
- KLEM-ah-tiss ver-jin-ee-AY-nah
- This plant has medium severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
-
This easy to grow vine is a rapid grower, climbs by twisting petioles, and has bright green foliage. It prefers rich, moist, well-drained soil in the full sun to partial to heavy shade. Though it will grow in the dry shade. It is one of the few vines that will flower with large amounts of shade. It works well in a woodland or native garden where it has room to twine up supports or fences, otherwise, it will scramble along the ground and it can grow over and overwhelm landscape shrubs. It can be pruned any time during the growing season to maintain shape and encourage bushiness. If it gets too large prune it back to 8"-12" above the ground back to strong leaf buds any time from the late fall to early to promote new growth in the spring. It does self-seed and can become weedy through suckering as well. This plant may be less frequently damaged by deer than other clematis species (hybrids).
Clematis virginiana blooms in the autumn (around August to October) and is a U.S. native. In comparison to Clematis teniflora, Clematis virginiana is smaller. Being less maintenance, the male Clematis virginiana is not adorned with seeds (versus the female which does produce seeds) but is showy (in comparison to the female version).
Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems: No serious problems. It can spread aggressively.
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:
-
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Clematis
- Species:
- virginiana
- Family:
- Ranunculaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Aboriginals and Native Americans used this plant for medicinal purposes. An extract of the stems was used as a hallucinogen. The Cherokee used an infusion combined with milkweed for backache and as an ingredient in ceremonial green corn medicine. An infusion of the root was used for stomach trouble and nerves and also for kidney problems by the Cherokee and the Iroquois. The Iroquois also used an infusion of the roots to treat venereal disease sores.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Layering
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Central & E. Canada to Central & E. U.S.A.
- Wildlife Value:
- Flowers attract hummingbirds and bees.
- Climbing Method:
- Twining
- Dimensions:
- Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ground Cover
- Native Plant
- Poisonous
- Vine
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Climbing
- Dense
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Fine
-
-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- 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
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasional Flooding
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6b, 6a, 7b, 7a, 8b, 8a
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Achene
- Fruit Description:
- Female plants have brown plume-like feathery seed-heads that resemble an old man's beard. Fruit displays from August to October.
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Flower Shape:
- Saucer
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Colored Sepals
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Dioecious plants with fragrant 1 1/4" white flowers with four narrow sepal-like petals form in axillary panicles bloom from July to September. The blooms cover the whole plant including the foliage in many clusters arising from the leaf axils.
-
-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Dentate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Description:
- Compound trifoliate green leaves with 3-5 toothed oval to elliptic leaflets are 4 inches long and 2 inches wide. Leaf petioles are 2 inches long and act like tendrils as the vine twines up supports. Undersides have hairs along the veins.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Round to squarish stems are green to purplish with hairs
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Riparian
- Vertical Spaces
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Shade Garden
- Design Feature:
- Screen/Privacy
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Hummingbirds
- Moths
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Black Walnut
- Deer
- Rabbits
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Children
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
- Weedy
-
-
Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- Medium
- 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
