Clematis virginiana
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Clematis canadensis
- Phonetic Spelling
- KLEM-ah-tiss ver-jin-ee-AY-nah
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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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.
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Clematis
- Species:
- virginiana
- Family:
- Ranunculaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Aboriginals and Native Americans used this plant for medicinal purposes.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Central & E. Canada to Central & E. U.S.A.
- Wildlife Value:
- Flowers attract hummingbirds and bees.
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Deer damage and black walnut
- Climbing Method:
- Twining
- Dimensions:
- Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ground Cover
- Native Plant
- Poisonous
- Vine
- Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
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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
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- Usda Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Fruit Type:
- Achene
- Fruit Description:
- Female plants have brown plume-like feathery seed-heads that resemble an old man's beard.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Flower Shape:
- Saucer
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- 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 and appear on current growth in the fall. The blooms cover the whole plant including the foliage.
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Leaves:
- 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.
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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
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Vertical Spaces
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Shade Garden
- Design Feature:
- Screen/Privacy
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Hummingbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Black Walnut
- Deer
- Problems:
- Weedy
- Clematis virginiana is often confused with:
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Clematis teniflora
- Plants that fill a similar niche:
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Monarda didyma
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Clematis crispa
