Clematis virginiana (Virgin's Bower): Minnesota Wildflowers

Clematis virginiana (Virgin's Bower)

Plant Info
Also known as:	Devil's Darning Needles
Genus:	Clematis
Family:	Ranunculaceae (Buttercup)
Life cycle:	perennial
Origin:	native
Habitat:	part shade, sun; moist woods, fencerows, along shores
Bloom season:	July - August
Plant height:	6 to 20 foot vine
County distribution (click map to enlarge):
Spotted in Ramsey County at:	Battle Creek Regional Park

Pick an image for a larger view. Most image enlargements are 50-100KB, though some may be larger. See the glossary for icon descriptions.

Detailed Information

Flower:

Flowers are in flat to panicled clusters arising from leaf axils. Individual flowers are about 1 inch across with 4 elliptic white petal-like sepals that are slightly hairy. There are typically separate male and female flowers, on separate plants. In the center of male flowers are numerous spreading stamens, white with pale yellow tips. Female flowers have numerous greenish pistils in the center, each with a curly style.

Leaves and stems:

Leaves are compound in groups of 3. Leaflets are up to 4 inches long and 3 inches wide, often cleft or shallowly lobed in 2 or 3 parts, with coarsely toothed edges, sharply pointed tips, a rounded base and short stalk. The underside may be hairy, especially along major veins. Stems are often purplish and hairy, the lower stem becoming woody with age. Stems twine around trees, shrubs and fences.

Fruit:

Fruit is a cluster of small seeds, each with a “tail” about 2 inches long. The seeds ripen from green to rusty brown and the tails become very feathery (see also more photos below).

Notes:

While Clematis species are very popular in the nursery trade, this one is conspicuously absent, much due to its incredible vigor and small flower size. It should not be so easily overlooked. Most people think of trellises as a 2'x6" meshed frame purchased at Menards or other. I have strung wires from the base of older trees and strung them to the lower branches and let the vine go where it will. The effect can be stunning—a large verticle column of foliage and effervescent white blooms with very interesting seedheads into winter. This provides untypical verticle structure and a excellent habitat for insects and birds in your garden. Also unlike many non-native Clematis species this is widely adaptable to most garden soils and suffers few nutrient issues as is common in the hybrids.

Where to buy native seed and plants

Help support this site by buying seeds & plants from these vendors. Tell them we sent you!

Map of native plant purveyors in the upper midwest

More photos

Photos by K. Chayka taken at Battle Creek Regional Park, St Paul, Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park, Coon Rapids, Interstate State Park. Other photos courtesy Peter M. Dziuk taken in Lino Lakes.

Comments

Have you seen this plant in Minnesota, or have any other comments about it?

Posted by: Pat in Meeker co
on: 2011-01-28 00:43:18

This plant is very common in open woods, etc. Can be a giant nuisance!

Posted by: Maryanne in Hungry Jack Road off the Gunflint Trail, Cook County
on: 2011-07-13 11:58:20

We found this growing on a balsam near our cabin in May. But flowers were pinkish purple, not white. We checked it again on July 10 and found the feathery fruit. Friends who have a cabin on East Lake, near Big Fork also have the purple virgin's bower. Wild Flowers, by Homer House, published 1934 and 1961, calls it "one of our rarest wild flowers". I can send an image of the flowers if you like. Thanks for what you are doing.

Posted by: K. Chayka
on: 2011-07-13 12:29:52

Maryanne, I believe what you found was the other native Clematis, C. occidentalis - purple clematis. It is only found in the Arrowhead and the few counties in the extreme SE corner of the state. We haven't managed to catch it in bloom ourselves, yet.

Posted by: grik in St. Paul
on: 2011-08-02 22:35:50

This plant makes up for its small flower size with its prolific bloom and vigor. However if you plant it will propagate itself. I planted this on a hillside I did not want to mow any longer and it has been a very good plant there. It has many beautiful little flies that frequent the flowers. It has very nice seed heads as well. Unfortunately no smell to the flowers I can make out.

Posted by: Victoria in Shakopee, Minnesota - Dean's Lake
on: 2011-10-30 14:53:51

Just scored some Virgin's bower seed from three plants on the north side of Dean's Lake in Shakopee. Sowed it on the south side of the lake, can't wait for the wonderful flowers!!!