Clematis flammula
Common name
fragrant virgin’s bower
Family
Ranunculaceae
Flora category
Vascular – Exotic
Structural class
Lianes & Related Trailing Plants - Dicotyledons
Conservation status
Not applicable
Habitat
Terrestrial.
Detailed description
Deciduous woody climber, stem terete, weak ribbing. Leaves very sparsely hairy, green & thick, 2-pinnate, 8-15 x 3-12cm, ovate to lanceolate, cuneate to truncate at base, acute to obtuse; margin entire or 2-3 lobed; petiole glabrous, 4-5cm long. Small white flowers 20-30 mm diameter with 4 sepals. Seeds hairy & compressed, 5-6mm long.
Similar taxa
Superficially similar to C. vitalba but leaves are 2-pinnate and sepal lobes relatively longer and narrower..
Flowering
January, February, March.
Flower colours
White
Fruiting
Unripe in February, ripe April-May
Life cycle
Perennial
Year naturalised
1968
Origin
Eurasia, N Africa
Reason for introduction
Ornamental
Etymology
clematis: From the Greek klema ‘vine’, alluding to the vine-like habit of many species
National Pest Plant Accord species
This plant is listed in the 2020 National Pest Plant Accord. The National Pest Plant Accord (NPPA) is an agreement to prevent the sale and/or distribution of specified pest plants where either formal or casual horticultural trade is the most significant way of spreading the plant in New Zealand. For up to date information and an electronic copy of the 2020 Pest Plant Accord manual (including plant information and images) visit the MPI website.