Clematis lasiantha

This beautiful and deciduous vine can grow as large as 20' tall. It quickly covers a fence or trellis, and is attractive twining through many of our local shrubs, giving interest to those without a spring show. In the wild, Pipestems can be found growing on hillsides, chaparral, and open woodlands. It prefers shade for its roots, and sun for its top, and is completely drought tolerant when established. To encourage flowering, shorten branch tips in early winter. It blooms March to August displaying many small creamy white, fragrant flowers. Native to California and is also found outside of California, but is confined to western North America. Attracts humming birds. Pipestem has been used traditional as a treatment for burns and colds. Found in hillsides, chaparral, and open woodlands. . Communitites located in Chaparral, Yellow Pine Forest Between 0 and 2000 feet.

A knock out native, Pipestem Clematis puts on a show of starry ivory 1" butterfly & bee attracting, fragrant blooms March through June. Drought tolerant once established, it produces flamboyant truffula tree like seed plumes after the bloom fest is over. Found on hillsides, chaparral & open woodlands from the Bay Area south to Baja, extending west to the foothills of the Sierra Nevadas. Great under oaks, it tolerates sand, clay & even seasonal flooding. To 8-20' tall it would be splendiferous covering an archway or arbor. In hot climates give some afternoon shade & mulch to keep the roots cool. Not as assertive as its buddy Clematis ligusticifolia. Deciduous.