evergreen clematis
(Clematis vitalba)
This species is Introduced in the United States
Clematis vitalba is a perennial, rapidly growing woody vine that can grow up to 100 ft. (30.5 m) long and completely blanket surrounding vegetation. It can be evergreen in some climates. Stems are woody in appearance. It is native to Europe and West Asia.
Foliage
Leaves are compound, opposite, and are usually arranged with five leaflets.
Flowers
Flowers are white in color and are arranged in clusters in the upper leaf axils. The blooming period occurs in summer.
Fruit
Seeds have long feathery tails which ripen in fall and are easily noticeable in early winter after leaves have fallen off the trees.
Ecological Threat
C. vitalba is found along streams, fence lines, forest edges, and hillsides. Be aware, C. vitalba is often confused with English Ivy, but in colder winters, C. vitalba loses its leaves whereas Ivy does not.
Citations
Rawlins, K.A., R.L. Winston, C.T. Bargeron, D.J. Moorhead, and R. Carroll. 2018. New Invaders of the Northeast and Northcentral United States. USDA Forest Service, Forest Health Assessment and Applied Sciences Team, Morgantown, West Virginia. FHTET-2017-04. Retrieved from https://bugwoodcloud.org/resource/pdf/FHTET-2017-04_New%20Invaders_NE.pdf
Selected Images
Maps
EDDMapS Distribution - This map is incomplete and is based only on current site and county level reports made by experts, herbaria, and literature. For more information, visit www.eddmaps.org
State Lists - This map identifies those states that have this species on their invasive species list or law.
Invasive Listing Sources
- California Invasive Plant Council
- Native Plant Society of Oregon, 2008
- New Invaders of the Northeast and Northcentral
- Oregon Noxious Weeds
- Pacific Northwest Exotic Pest Plant Council, 1998
- Reichard, Sarah. 1994. Assessing the potential of invasiveness in woody plants introduced in North America. University of Washington Ph.D. dissertation.
- Washington Noxious Weeds
- WeedUS - Database of Plants Invading Natural Areas in the United States
Taxonomic Rank
| Domain: Eukarya |
| Kingdom: Plantae |
| Phylum: Magnoliophyta |
| Class: Magnoliopsida |
| Superorder: Ranunculanae |
| Order: Ranunculales |
| Family: Ranunculaceae |
| Genus: Clematis |
| Clematis vitalba |
References
Common Name Reference: USDA, NRCS. 2010. The PLANTS Database. National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA, USA.
Scientific Name Reference: USDA, NRCS. 2010. The PLANTS Database. National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA, USA.