Virgin's Bower (Clematis virginiana)

Virgin's Bower, Clematis virginiana, is a showy native vine that blooms in a flurry of small white flowers in mid-to-late summer. The long vines can extend up to 10 feet and flower for nearly a month. This avid climber will easily twine around a trellis or fence, or tall vegetation and shrubs.

Virgin's Bower is usually dioecious, with male and female flowers produced on separate plants. Abundant flowering occurs regardless of gender, but the showy seedheads are formed from the female flowers. Our plants are unsexed at the time of sale, as they are not yet mature.

Cematis virginiana is often confused with Clematis paniculata (Sweet Autumn Clematis), a more aggressive Asian species that has escaped cultivation. The plants are easily distiguished by the leaves: The leaves of Virgin's Bower are jagged on the edges, but Sweet Autumn Clematis has rounded leaves. 

Virgin's Bower is a host plant for the Clematis Clearwing Moth, Alcathoe caudata.