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NC Native Plant Society:
Plant Details

Clematis terniflora

Sweet Autumn Virginsbower, Leatherleaf Clematis

Scientific Name:

Clematis terniflora

Genus:

Clematis

Species Epithet:

terniflora

Common Name:

Sweet Autumn Virginsbower, Leatherleaf Clematis

Plant Type

Herbaceous_Vine

Life Cycle

Perennial

Plant Family

Ranunculaceae (Buttercup Family)

Native/Alien:

Not Native to US

Invasive Status:

Rank 2 - Significant Threat (*Key)

Size:

12-36 ft.

Bloom Color(s):

White

Light:

Sun - 6 or more hours of sun per day, Part Shade - 2 to 6 hours of sun per day

Soil Moisture:

Moist

Bloom Time:

July, August, September

Growing Area:

Mountains, Piedmont, Sandhills, Coastal Plain

Habitat Description:

Disturbed areas. Common in the Piedmont and Sandhills, uncommon in the Mountains and Coastal Plain. Apparently spreading rapidly in recent decades.

Leaf Arrangement:

Opposite

Leaf Retention:

Deciduous

Leaf Type:

Leaves veined, not needle-like or scale-like

Leaf Form:

Compound

Life Cycle:

Perennial

Wildlife Value:

No known wildlife value

Landscape Value:

Not Recommended for home landscapes

State Rank:

(*Key)

Global Rank:

GNR: Unknown (*Key)

State Status:

(*Key)

Notes:

Spreads rapidly and can be hard to control. Native of e. Asia (Japan, China, Korea)

NC Rank 2 Invasive, Significant threat

"From the National Park Service website: "This species is found invading forest edges, right-of-ways and urban areas along streams and roads. It grows vigorously over other vegetation, forming dense blankets that block sunlight to the plants underneath. In late summer infestations are conspicuous as a result of its abundant showy white flowers."

image

Murray Page, late August, 2012

Flowers

The flowers are fragrant. They are very similar to the native Virgin's Bower, Clematis virginiana, but the native clematis has mostly 3-parted leaves with toothed edges. In seed, the invasive Sweet Autumn Clematis has feathery styles. The styles of Virgin's Bower are smooth and threadlike.

image

Murray Page, Southport, late August, 2012

Leaf

The leaves are compound, usually with 5 leaflets that have smooth edges.

image

Vine with opposite, UNTOOTHED leaves and 4 showy white sepals. Fragrant.

Forsyth Co., NC

The Scientific Name is Clematis terniflora. You will likely hear them called Sweet Autumn Virginsbower, Leatherleaf Clematis. This picture shows the Vine with opposite, UNTOOTHED leaves and 4 showy white sepals. Fragrant. of Clematis terniflora

Lisa Lofland Gould

Fruit developing; each will have a long, feathery "tail".

Forsyth Co., NC

The Scientific Name is Clematis terniflora. You will likely hear them called Sweet Autumn Virginsbower, Leatherleaf Clematis. This picture shows the Fruit developing; each will have a long, feathery

Lisa Lofland Gould

Links:

USDA PLANTS Database Record



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