PLANT PROFILE

Clematis terniflora
sweet autumn clematis


Clematis terniflora

Clematis terniflora
Clematis terniflora

Photos courtesy Renee Brecht
  
Botanical name: Clematis terniflora
Common name: sweet autumn clematis
Group: dicot
Family: Ranunculaceae
Growth type: vine
Duration: perennial
Origin: introduced; INVASIVE
Plant height: 10 - 20'
Foliage: leaves are mostly rounded and untoothed.
Flower: white, 1" across
Flowering time: July to September
Habitat: edges of woods and streams, thickets
Range in New Jersey: throughout most of the state
Heritage ranking, if any: n/a
Distribution: Clematis terniflora
Misc. This Japanese garden escape is invasive. Consider planting our native Clematis, Clematis terniflora, instead.

The two are distinguished by their leaves; our native virgin's bower, Clematis virginiana, has has leaves with jagged teeth while the invasive, Clematis terniflora, or sweet autumn clematis, has rounded leaves, primarily untoothed.