Clematis virginiana L.
Wild clematis, virgin’s bower, old man’s beard, devil’s darning needles
Wild clematis is a North American native vine. It is a member of the buttercup family.
Plants: This vine grows to 12–15′ (3.7–4.6 m), climbing with the aid of twisted stems.
Leaves: Leaf clusters are in groups of three, making it somewhat resemble poison ivy, but these clusters are opposite, while poison ivy’s are alternate.
Flowers: Flower clusters are composed of mildly fragrant dull white or cream flowers ½–¾″ (1.3–1.9 cm) across, with five petals. Flowers appear from July to September.
Fruits: The flowers become soft, silky seeds, with distinctive silvery gray feather plumes.
Habitats: Low, moist woods; thickets; stream banks.
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Somewhat similar species. |
Edibility: Poisonous 
All parts of this plant are poisonous.
Causes severe mouth pain and mouth ulcers if eaten; also a skin irritant.
Medical: Some native Americans used extracts from wild clematis for various ailments.
Online References:
Clematis virginiana L. var. missouriensis (Rydb.) Palmer & Steyerm.
8/20/2012 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 8 × 5″ (19 × 13 cm) 
(The leaves are mulberry.) · 9/1/2013 · Colonial Williamsburg, Williamsburg, Virginia 
8/8/2009 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 1 × 1′ (41 × 34 cm) 
ID is uncertain 
8/20/2012 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 5 × 4½″ (13 × 11 cm) 
8/8/2009 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 6 × 4½″ (15 × 11 cm) ID is uncertain 
9/11/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 9 × 6″ (22 × 14 cm) 
9/11/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 12 × 8″ (31 × 20 cm) 
8/20/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Ayer, Massachusetts · ≈ 4½ × 3″ (11 × 7.9 cm) 
8/8/2009 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 11 × 7″ (27 × 18 cm) ID is uncertain 
8/20/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Ayer, Massachusetts · ≈ 4 × 3″ (10 × 7.9 cm) 
9/21/2012 · By Jacquelyn Boyt 
8/20/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Ayer, Massachusetts · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (17 × 11 cm) 
9/11/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (17 × 11 cm) 
9/11/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 6 × 4″ (15 × 10 cm) 
8/8/2009 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 12 × 8″ (31 × 20 cm) ID is uncertain 
10/5/2023 · Quill Hill, Rangeley, Maine ID is uncertain 
8/20/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Ayer, Massachusetts · ≈ 6 × 6″ (15 × 14 cm) 
9/29/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Ayer, Massachusetts · ≈ 5 × 3½″ (13 × 9.2 cm) 
10/6/2023 
8/20/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Ayer, Massachusetts · ≈ 7 × 11″ (18 × 27 cm) 
9/21/2012 · By Jacquelyn Boyt 
9/11/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 8 × 7″ (19 × 18 cm) 
9/1/2013 · Colonial Williamsburg, Williamsburg, Virginia 
| Kingdom | Plantae | Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae (from Stearn's Botanical Latin) |
| Subkingdom | Tracheobionta | Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients |
| Division | Magnoliophyta | Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms |
| Class | Magnoliopsida | Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | Includes magnolias, nutmeg, bay laurel, cinnamon, avocado, black pepper, and many others |
| Order | Ranunculales | Basal (evolved earlier) eudicots, also called “true dicots” |
| Family | Ranunculaceae | Buttercup family |
| Genus | Clematis | In Greek means “long, lithe branches” and is an ancient name for some climbing plant |
| Species | virginiana | From or referring to Virginia |
Clematis virginiana description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.
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