Clematis Species, Devil's Darning Needles, Virgin's Bower
Clematis virginiana
Family: | Ranunculaceae (ra-nun-kew-LAY-see-ee) (Info) |
Genus: | Clematis (KLEM-uh-tiss) (Info) |
Species: | virginiana (vir-jin-ee-AN-uh) (Info) |
Synonym: | Clematis bracteata |
Synonym: | Clematis canadensis |
Synonym: | Clematis cordifolia |
Synonym: | Clematis fragrans |
Synonym: | Clematis holosericea |
Group:
Herbaceous
Height:
12-15 ft. (3.6-4.7 m)
Spacing:
18-24 in. (45-60 cm)
24-36 in. (60-90 cm)
Hardiness:
USDA Zone 4b: to -31.6 °C (-25 °F)
USDA Zone 5a: to -28.8 °C (-20 °F)
USDA Zone 5b: to -26.1 °C (-15 °F)
USDA Zone 6a: to -23.3 °C (-10 °F)
USDA Zone 6b: to -20.5 °C (-5 °F)
USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 °C (0 °F)
USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 °C (5 °F)
USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F)
USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F)
Bloom Color:
White/Near White
Flower Fragrance:
Very Fragrant
Bloom Shape:
Single
Bloom Diameter:
Small - less than 2 inches (5 cm)
Bloom Time:
Mid Summer
Sun Exposure:
Full Sun
Sun to Partial Shade
Other details:
May be a noxious weed or invasive
Danger:
Parts of plant are poisonous if ingested
Pruning Groups:
Group 3 - Summer/Fall bloomers; prune hard in early spring
Patent Information:
Non-patented
Propagation Methods:
From woody stem cuttings
From seed; direct sow outdoors in fall
From seed; stratify if sowing indoors
By grafting
By simple layering
Seed Collecting:
Collect seedhead/pod when flowers fade; allow to dry
Allow seedheads to dry on plants; remove and collect seeds
Properly cleaned, seed can be successfully stored
Foliage Color:
Bloom Characteristics:
This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds
Flowers are fragrant
Water Requirements:
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
Where to Grow:
Grow outdoors year-round in hardiness zone
Regional
This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions:
Blytheville, Arkansas
Sacramento, California
Bartow, Florida
Jacksonville, Florida
Brunswick, Georgia
Divernon, Illinois
Lincoln, Illinois
Lisle, Illinois
Waukegan, Illinois
Trout, Louisiana
Zachary, Louisiana
Northeast Harbor, Maine
Valley Lee, Maryland
Portage, Michigan
Chaska, Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Raymond, Mississippi
Frenchtown, New Jersey
Brooklyn, New York
Hilton, New York
New York City, New York
Panama, New York
Harrisburg, North Carolina
Bucyrus, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Glouster, Ohio
Guysville, Ohio
Allentown, Pennsylvania
Downingtown, Pennsylvania
Harrisonville, Pennsylvania
Millersburg, Pennsylvania
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Austin, Texas
Appleton, Wisconsin
Westfield, Wisconsin
show allGardeners' Notes:
Rating | Content |
---|---|
Positive | On Apr 16, 2015, Chillybean from (Zone 5a) wrote: What I have are indeed Clematis virginiana, purchased at a reputable native plant nursery. |
Positive | On Feb 10, 2014, Rickwebb from Downingtown, PA wrote: It is fast growing, but not horribly rampant like the similar Sweetautumn Clematis (Clemais terniflora) from eastern Asia that is sold and planted around much, much more, unfortunately, because the Asian species does self-sow even as one plant all over the place; I think a number of negative comments below are really for this Asian species. Virgin's-bower is native from New Foundland to Manitoba and down to Texas and Florida is mostly sold just from native plant nurseries, though some large or special regular nurseries sell it too. It has separate male and female plants (dioecious), and the male (staminate) has whiter, more showy flowers. The female plants produce clusters of feathery plum-like hairy achene seeds like other clematis in late summer - early fall. My plant must be female beca... read more |
Neutral | On Jun 3, 2013, esanita from Tyaskin, MD (Zone 7a) wrote: Please read! If you have an aggressive clematis 'virginiana', it's probably not our native clematis virginiana but the invasive, aggressive non-native clematis terniflora. They look very much alike, but our native virginiana has trifoliate, toothed leaves. The invasive terniflora has mostly rounded and untoothed leaves. So check the leaves on your clematis. If they are rounded and not toothed, then you don't have clematis virginiana. You have terniflora -- get rid of it! Please check out this website; it's short with a very clear description of the two clematis', with pictures: |
Neutral | On Apr 6, 2012, KittyWittyKat from Saint Paul, MN (Zone 4b) wrote: Clematis virginiana is a native US vine with toothed leaf margins - trifoliate. Whereas Clematis terniflora is an exotic vine with smooth margins and deemed invasive in multiple states. |
Positive | On Jul 17, 2011, DracusBiology from Portage, MI wrote: Whoa, whoa, wait a minute... assuming you live in the Eastern United States and Canada this is a completely native plant. Yes it still has quite a potential to be 'weedy' but if you are looking for a native plant/pollinator garden this is a decent choice. Although it might take a little extra work to keep it in check the hummingbirds are supposed to go nuts with this stuff and it has a pretty long flowering season. There is some of this growing in a park nearby to my home and although I haven't seen any hummingbirds I have seen tons of butterflies at the flowers. |
Neutral | On Mar 29, 2011, cmackie from Allentown, PA wrote: Why does the plant data for this species list it as "very fragrant"? I thought the fact that it has no fragrance is one of the characteristics that distinguishes it from the invasive Japananes sweet autumn clematis. |
Negative | On Aug 12, 2010, frecklez from Rochester, VT wrote: I'm dealing with the wild variety of virgin's bower (clematis virginiana) and although I couldn't find the comments on your site about its invasiveness, I'll say, WATCH OUT! Normally I take the whole invasive-species thing with a large grain of salt, but now it's war! |
Neutral | On Sep 8, 2009, travelgal from Clarkesville, GA wrote: I think this plant can be confused with Sweet Autumn Clematis. (terniflora?) They are very similar. One is more invasive than the other. I have seen one of them growing wild in NE GA. It has two-tone varieg. green leaves. Does anyone have a positive ID on this? Thanx, Brenda |
Positive | On Jun 14, 2009, desmarc from New York, NY wrote: We've had this plant growing in wood containers on our Manhattan terrace for more than 3 years, and every late summer it gives great pleasure to us and all our neighboring condo dwellers: beautiful clouds of white flowers all along our railings. Of course dies back every winter but comes back strong each spring. Granted, there's no danger of it escaping the containers and eating Manhattan, but it's a great note of nature in the city. |
Positive | On Feb 28, 2009, claypa from West Pottsgrove, PA (Zone 6b) wrote: Clematis virginiana is no more toxic than any other Clematis. This plant is native to most of the US and Canada east of the Rocky Mountains. |
Negative | On Feb 13, 2006, raisedbedbob from Walkerton, VA (Zone 7a) wrote: Toxic. Reportedly irritating to skin and mucous membranes. Ingestion may cause bloody vomiting severe diarrhea and convulsions. |
Neutral | On Aug 14, 2005, grikdog from St. Paul, MN (Zone 4a) wrote: Put it someplace where you won't have to fight it. I have it out back fighting with the virginia creeper on an old woodpile. It is great there. I had to use extreme measures to remove it from near my garage because it was popping up where it was not wanted. Now we are living in peace :). |
Positive | On Jun 24, 2005, JaxFlaGardener from Jacksonville, FL (Zone 8b) wrote: I had posted before in my naivete, thinking that I had the native Clematis virginiana, when actually I had the invasive Japanese Sweet Autumn Clematis, C. terniflora. I still would like to see a photo of the two plants' leaves and flowers side-by-side to get a better idea of the differences. It is my current understanding that C. virginiana has a more serrate edge to the leaf, whereas C. ternifolia has a smooth leaf margin. |
Negative | On Jun 8, 2004, dawogette from Geraldton, Mulch well with composts in late winter |
Negative | On Jun 7, 2004, LamarB from Huntsville, AL wrote: This plant has beautiful tiny white flowers which bloom and cascade over in the fall, thence it's name. The downside is hundreds of plants it generates all over your lawn. They are impossible to pull up, and very difficult to kill, even with Roundup. |
Positive | On Aug 27, 2003, sistabeth from Harrisburg, NC wrote: This wonderful plant showed up in my yard as a volunteer. It was easily transplanted to a full sun area. I had no knowledge of the plant, but started it on a trellis and the results are spectacular. Profuse flowers and heavenly scent. Thank you Mother Nature for this "gift". I would have paid $ for it. |