Woodbine (Clematis virginiana)
KLEM-ah-tis ver-jin-ee-AY-nah

Deciduous Perennial Vine in the Ranunculaceae Family

A vigorous, twining North American native vine, prized for its billowing late-summer-to-fall display of small white flowers followed by silvery, feathery seed plumes that catch the light and persist into winter. Also known as Virgin's Bower or Devil's Darning Needles. Individual plants may be male-, female-, or perfect-flowered, so bloom and seed production can vary from vine to vine.

Pros

  • Vigorous native vine for quick screening on a fence, arbor, or trellis
  • Showy white flowers in late summer followed by decorative silky seed heads
  • Attracts bees and other pollinators; seed plumes provide winter interest for birds
  • Tolerant of a wide range of soils and light conditions

Cons

  • Self-seeds readily and can become weedy if not managed
  • Can overwhelm and smother neighboring shrubs left unchecked
  • Deep, sparse root system makes transplanting difficult once established
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 10 - 20 feet tall. 3 - 6 feet wide.
Growth Rate Fast
Sun Exposure Full Shade - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance Medium - Wet
Zones 4a - 8b (Usually hardy to -30° F)
Tags Attracts Beneficial Insects, Attracts Butterflies, Attracts Hummingbirds, Attracts Pollinators, Attracts Wildlife, Deciduous, Deer Resistant, Extended Bloom Time, Formal Garden, Full Shade, Full Sun, Good for Accents, Good for Butterfly Garden, Good for Cottage Garden, Good for Cut Flowers, Illinois Native, Low Maintenance, Medium, Native to North America, Normal Soil, Partial Shade, Partial Sun, Perennial, Rabbit Resistant, Showy Flowers, Tolerant of Clay Soil, Tolerant of Loamy Soil, Tolerant of Poor Soil, Tolerant of Sandy Soil, Trellis, Vine, Well-Drained Soil, Wet, Wet Site Tolerant, Woodland Garden
Bloom Period July to September
Flower Color White
 

Most Popular Plants
"Trellis" #4, "Vine" #5
 

In The News
 

More Info from Experts

Commonly Planted with...

Pairs well with sturdy shrubs or small trees it can scramble over without overwhelming, or companion native woodland perennials such as Viola sororia and Viola canadensis.
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Pricing and Availability History

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Past Availability
2025 : 04/03 - 10/04
2024 : 05/01 - 10/05
2023 : 04/13 - 09/30

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Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants

Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.

Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.


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No Pricing or Availability Right Now

We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region. It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.

Our goal is to bring as many plants together under "one roof" as possible, so we'll try hard to make it available again in the future!