Clematis virginiana L.

Virginia Virgin's Bower; Devil's Darning Needles

Vine

Perennial

Vascular

Virginia Virgin's Bower is a native herbaceous vine in the Buttercup family (Ranunculaceae). It occurs throughout most of Alabama. Virginia Virgin's Bower grows along creeks and rivers, around ponds and lakes, in wet roadside ditches, in low woods, and in disturbed habitats. It is a perennial vine up to 20 feet in length. The lower portions of the vine may become woods. The vine climbs by twining. Young stems are green in color, angles, and pubescent. Leaves are opposite and 3-foliate. The leaflets are ovate to lanceolate in outline, toothed, and pubescent on the lower surface. The fragrant flowers are produced in axillary compound cymes. Individual flowers are unisexual. Each flower has 4 white sepals and no petals. Each staminate flower has 30-50 pale yellow stamens. Each pistillate flower has 40-70 greenish pistils. The fruit is a cluster of achenes. Each achene has a hairy beak. The foliage of Virginia Virgin's Bower is toxic, and it is usually avoided by deer and other herbivores. Virginia Virgin's Bower is available from some native plant nurseries. It prefers a moist or wet soil in partial to full sun. Plants will need a trellis or other support to climb over. Plants should be pruned back heavily in the fall, as flowers occur on new growth. Virginia Virgin's Bower can spread aggressively in the garden from seed.--A. Diamond

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Native FAC+ (NWPL)

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