FNPS Plant Database

Clematis virginiana

Virginia virgin's-bower

PHOTOS COMING SOON!

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:

USDA zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature.



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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.

Citations:

https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/  (bees).



Osorio, Rufino. 2001. A gardener's guide to Florida's native plants.  University Press of Florida, Gainesville, FL.



Wunderlin, R. P., B. F. Hansen, A. R. Franck, and F. B. Essig. 2021. Atlas of Florida Plants ( https://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/ ).  Institute for Systematic Botany, University of South Florida, Tampa.

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