Plant types

Plant styles

Planting conditions

Seasonal interest

Nurseries & Gardens

Photo by Stan Shebs

This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.

Show all photos

Clematis ligusticifolia

Also Known As

Old-man's Beard
Virgin's-bower
Western White Clematis
Yerba de Chiva

Plant type

groundcover, vine

size

H: 1'-30'
W: 1'-30'

planting zones

3a-12

More Options

Clematis ligusticifolia plant details

Clematis ligusticifolia is a broadleaf semi-evergreen groundcover vine with green foliage. In summer white flowers emerge. Attracts hummingbirds. Grows well with sun - mostly shade and high - regular water. Does well in rich and well-drained soil.

CHARACTERISTICS OF Clematis ligusticifolia

Plant type: groundcover vine
Plant family: ranunculaceae
Foliage: semi-evergreen green
Mature size: 1 FT - 30 FT - wide, 1 FT - 30 FT - tall
Flowers: white blooms in summer
Uses: trellis

GROWING CONDITIONS for Clematis ligusticifolia

USDA Zones: 3a - 12
Sun exposure: sun - mostly shade
Watering frequency: high - regular

Soil needs: rich and well-drained

Nursery contributed plant descriptions

This western native Clematis is a wide spreading 10-15' vine with masses of showy white spring blossoms. The flowers become lovely, soft, cream-colored filamentous fruits. Widespread in riparian areas throughout the western United States, it is also extremely drought-tolerant once established. Very low maintenance it makes a good groundcover for tough spots. It was called 'pepper vine' by early travelers and pioneers as they used it as a pepper substitute to spice up food since real black pepper was expensive and hard to get; Clematis is actually toxic, so we do not recommend that you try this! This vine was also used medicinally by some Native American tribes. S/M-W-D

By: Forestfarm

Virgin's bower is an undemanding deciduous vine that can readily cover a dark fence or wall, or just trail through the nearby shrubs and trees in the garden. This plant occurs naturally along streams, so plant in a wet place or irrigate in the garden. The flowers are white to off-white and are borne in large clusters. Native to California and is also found outside of California, but is confined to western North America. Good butterfly and hummingbird nectar source. Used by numerous Native American tribes for ailments from sore throat to backache, bedwetting to toothache. A poultice of mashed, moistened leaves was applied to severe burns. Seed floss makes excellent tinder for starting fires. Found in streambanks. Communitites located in Yellow Pine/Red Fir/Lodgepole Forest, Foothill Woodland, Chaparral, Valley Grassland, Wetland-riparian Between 0 and 7000 feet.

By: The Watershed Nursery

Small Flowered Clematis Species. Western US.

By: Brushwood Nursery

This pretty native vine has lovely 1” wide white flowers in Summer. Twining stems would do well climbing a trellis or scrambling through a tree. Grows to about 15’ tall. Lovely even after bloom when the frothy seedheads do their thing. Found growing from Northwest Mexico to British Columbia, often growing along streams or wet places. The crushed leaves have been used in the past as a poultice for skin conditions. Remains evergreen with adequate water.