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Virgin's Bower Clematis is a
showy perennial native vine
Mississippi Gardens Newspaper and Web Column - August 18, 2003

It's funny how one can travel a certain path for years and never notice some of the really attractive plants that line the roadway. My preoccupation with driving is my only excuse for being oblivious to some outstanding roadside plants that are really noteworthy. A plant that caught my attention recently is a terrific looking vine known as Sweet Autumn Clematis, a.k.a Japanese Virgin's-bower.

In the process of identifying this floriferous beauty, I discovered that Sweet Autumn Clematis (Clematis terniflora) is actually an import from Japan that escaped from gardens and found a new home in woodlands east of the Mississippi River from Florida to New England. While in bloom it is really beautiful and hard to miss no matter how fast one is traveling. It has an abundance of small spicy-fragrant, star-shaped flowers and attractive foliage. Unfortunately, due to its origin (Japan), somewhat aggressive nature, and windblown seed it is considered an exotic invasive plant in some states. Because of this status, it can't or shouldn't be recommended for use in our gardens. However…

Instead of planting the Sweet Autumn Clematis, consider one of its nearest cousins and just as attractive, our native Virgin's-bower, Clematis virginiana. It too is a handsome flowering vine most suitable for landscape planting. It is a vigorous climber that will display many clusters of small flowers from midsummer to early fall. One person described its floral display as a "cloud of pale cream".

The clusters of creamy white flowers turn into very interesting silky seeds that will glisten when backlit by the sun. The seeds germinate readily without pretreatment. Although they may not be readily available in local garden centers there is at least one seed source on the Internet. The easiest way to tell these two vines apart is to examine the leaves. Those of our native clematis are "toothed" while those of the invasive form are smooth. Both lose their leaves in winter.

The Virgin's Bower Clematis is a showy perennial native vine that will make an excellent landscape feature. When in bloom, this plant will reach out and grab your attention because it begs to be admired. It prefers partial shade or partial sun. If in full sun, it is likely to bloom more prolifically but its roots need to be shaded. So, give it plenty of mulch as a protection against the summer sun. Soil should also be moist for best performance. A soil pH range of 6.0 to 7.0 is acceptable. Space the vines 7 to 10 feet apart. An arbor, trellis or fence will be necessary to support and display this native vine that will be a fantastic addition to Mississippi gardens.

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These archived columns were written by Kerry Johnson, a hobby gardener, former weekly newspaper columnist and an Area Extension Horticulture Agent for 11 coastal counties in Mississippi.