Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

Virginia virgin's-bower

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Clematis virginiana

Family:

Rannunculaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

vine

Size:

to 15 ft tall by to 15 ft wide

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

white

Fruit Color:

brown

Phenology:

Winter dormant (dies back to the ground). Blooms and fruits summer-fall.

Noted For:

Showy Flowers, Showy Fruits

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Grow on support such as a fence or trellis. Blooms late summer to mid-fall.

Considerations:

May become overly large if not trimmed.

Availability:

Native Nurseries, Seed

Propagation:

Establish from seed, cuttings, or division.

Light:

Full Sun, Part Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded------------------------------------------------Extremely Dry

Coming Soon!

Somewhat moist, no flooding ---to--- Not wet but not extremely dry

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand, Clay, Loam

Soil pH:

Adaptable

Suitable to Grow In:

Ecology

Wildlife:

Pollinators, Caterpillars, Hummingbirds

Larval host for the mournful thyris ( Thyris sepulchralis ).





Attracts  bees ( https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/ ).

Attracts hummingbirds  ( https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/ ).

Native Habitats:

Wooded sites, disturbed areas, thickets near roadsides. Typically wet.

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

General Comments:

Has male and female plants. Only the females will have showy seed heads.



Clematis terniflora is a similar-looking non-native white Clematis that is considered to be invasive in Florida.  It is sold as an ornamental.  Please choose our native species over this Japanese plant.