Old Man's Beard Clematis
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Old Man's Beard:
- Phonetic Spelling
- KLEM-ah-tiss
- This plant has high severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
-
Virgin’s bower is a woody, perennial, dense vine in the Ranunculaceae (buttercup) family with many species and cultivars, some of which are climbers and others are spreaders. Depending upon the support structure, they can get to be 6 to 18 feet long. Their native range is wide: North America, Europe, India, Australia, China, Japan, and New Zealand. Its name derives from the Greek word klēmatis, meaning brushwood or broken branches, perhaps owing to its fragile stems.
They prefer full sun, with afternoon shade in areas with hot summers. Shade the roots with mulch or a ground cover planting. Moist, well-drained soil with a neutral to slightly alkaline pH is recommended. Virgin’s bower is deep-rooted, so water thoroughly. Clematis is a heavy feeder; provide it with a low nitrogen, slow release fertilizer every 4 to 6 weeks throughout the growing season.
Pruning depends on whether they bloom on old wood or new wood. Stems are fragile and should be handled gently. The plants may be propagated by division, layering, or stem cutting.
Flowers can be 4 to 7 inches wide and attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds; other birds may nest in the vines. The plants are deer and rabbit resistant.
Use virgin’s bower in an Asian, butterfly, cottage, or pollinator garden. They are also suitable for containers, naturalized areas, vertical spaces, or woodlands.
Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems.
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 landscapes:
- Courtyard Garden Flower Bonanza Garden Colorful Borders Juniper Level Botanic Garden: Sunken Pond Garden Daylilies Galore, Cabarrus County
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Blue explosion'
- 'Cezanne'
Light blue petals with light yellow anthers - 'Filigree'
- 'Fireworks'
- 'Guernsey Cream'
- 'Matka Urszula Ledochowska'
Very large white flowers - 'Rooguchi Sapphire'
Indigo bus clematis - purple petals with white border
- 'Blue explosion'
- 'Blue explosion', 'Cezanne', 'Filigree', 'Fireworks', 'Guernsey Cream', 'Matka Urszula Ledochowska', 'Rooguchi Sapphire'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Blue explosion'
- 'Cezanne'
Light blue petals with light yellow anthers - 'Filigree'
- 'Fireworks'
- 'Guernsey Cream'
- 'Matka Urszula Ledochowska'
Very large white flowers - 'Rooguchi Sapphire'
Indigo bus clematis - purple petals with white border
- 'Blue explosion'
- 'Blue explosion', 'Cezanne', 'Filigree', 'Fireworks', 'Guernsey Cream', 'Matka Urszula Ledochowska', 'Rooguchi Sapphire'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Clematis
- Family:
- Ranunculaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Clematis species have been traditionally used in several cultures for their anti-inflammatory effects.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Layering
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- N. America, Europe, India, Australia, China, Japan, New Zealand
- Distribution:
- temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere
- Wildlife Value:
- Clematis leaves are food for the caterpillars of some Lepidoptera species, including the willow beauty (Peribatodes rhomboidaria). Varieties attract bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, other birds may nest in the vines.
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-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Poisonous
- Vine
- Wildflower
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Climbing
- Dense
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Appendage:
- Tendrils
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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:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil pH:
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- 3 feet-6 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Fruit Type:
- Achene
- Fruit Description:
- many small, dry fruits each with a silky-plumose tail
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Blue
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Variegated
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Head
- Panicle
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Cross
- Star
- Trumpet
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- 7 - 20 petals/rays
- Flower Description:
- flowers with 4-8 petal-like parts of various colors, many stamens
-
-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leathery
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Cordate
- Deltoid
- Elliptical
- Lanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- leaves alternate, pinnately divided
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Naturalized Area
- Vertical Spaces
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Asian Garden
- Butterfly Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Cutting Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Screen/Privacy
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Black Walnut
- Deer
- Rabbits
- Problems:
- Contact Dermatitis
- 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:
- Leaves
- Sap/Juice
