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Bush Clematis

Clematis integrifolia (KLEM-ah-tiss in-teg-ree-FOH-lee-uh)

Family: Ranunculaceae Non-native Herbaceous (3-15 ft)

Bush clematis is a shrubby herbaceous perennial in the buttercup family (Ranunculaceae) native to central Europe, Russia and China. The specific epithet is from the Latin for “entire leaf” and references the unlobed, undivided shape of the leaves. Bush clematis is not fussy about pH but prefers a moist, well-drained, loamy soil high in organic matter. Select a site with full sun for best blooming; if the site is too shady, the plant may sprawl more and need staking. Mulch to keep the roots cool and to retain moisture. Hard pruning in early spring is recommended (Type 3). Propagate by division, seed, or stem cutting. Unlike many clematis, this plant does not climb. It has an upright, spreading habit. It will grow 1 to 3 feet high and 2 to 3 feet wide. Plant it in a container, a meadow, or along a walkway. Add it to an Asian, cottage, or rock garden. Use it in a mass planting or a border. It attracts bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and songbirds. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Occasional scale insects, whiteflies, earwigs, and aphids. Wilt, powdery mildew, rust, fungal spots, and stem cankers may occur. VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for " Annuals, Perennials, Vines, and Groundcovers " a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens. More information on Clematis .

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 65 attributes.

How it fits the guild

Guild layer 4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft) Optimal soil pH Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
See companions & conflicts ↓

Companions & Conflicts

Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.

No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.

Also noted by NC State

Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.

Full plant profile

Growing Conditions
Plant type
Ground Cover; Herbaceous Perennial
Life cycle
Perennial
USDA zones
3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt)
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in. | Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Dense; Erect; Mounding; Prostrate
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Lanceolate; Ovate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Smooth
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Leaves are ovate to oblong, sessile, entire, conspicuously veined and form a dense clump.
Flower color
Blue; Pink; Purple/Lavender; White
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Head
Flower shape
Bell; Urn
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
Solitary, nodding, bell-shaped flowers with slightly twisted violet to blue sepals and creamy white anthers.
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit color
Gray/Silver; Green
Fruit type
Achene
Fruit value
Good Dried; Showy
Fruit detail
plumose, ornamentally-attractive, silvery-green seed head
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Central Europe to Russia and China
Wildlife value
Attracts Pollinators, rarely browsed by herbivores
Attracts
Bees; Butterflies; Hummingbirds; Songbirds
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Fall
Fruit type
Achene
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Container; Walkways
Landscape theme
Asian Garden; Cottage Garden; Rock Garden
Design feature
Border; Mass Planting
Garden tags
#woody #showy seedheads #blue flowers #showy flowers #deciduous #well-drained soil #lavender flowers #mounding #white flowers #summer flowers #poisonous #purple flowers #shrub #pink flowers #moist soil #groundcover #spring flowers #problem for cats #problem for dogs #problem for horses #full sun tolerant #partial shade tolerant #rich soils #dense growth #courtyard garden #pollinator plant #rock garden #border planting #border front #Asian garden #hummingbird friendly #mass planting #cottage garden #butterfly friendly #bee friendly #bell-shaped flowers #vine #perennial #container plant #walkway
Problems & Resistance
Insect problems
Armored Scale Identification and Management on Ornamental Plants; Soft Scale Identification and Management on Ornamental Plants; Whiteflies Found on Flowers and Foliage; Earwigs in the Landscape; Aphids on Ornamental Landscape Plants
Problems
Poisonous to Humans; Problem for Cats; Problem for Children; Problem for Dogs; Problem for Horses
Resistant to
Black Walnut; Deer; Rabbits
Propagation
Division; Seed; Stem Cutting
Poison severity
High
Poison parts
Flowers; Leaves; Sap/Juice
Poison symptoms
Clematis can cause severe mouth pain and ulcers if eaten. Toxic to dogs, cats, horses. Clinical signs are salivation, vomiting, diarrhea. In humans, symptoms may include dizziness, confusion, fainting, and convulsions. Fatalities are rare, due to the rapid and intense bitter taste and mouth irritation from eating. Gastric lavage is recommended and anti-inflammatory to soothe irritated tissue. Contact dermatitis results in skin redness and burning sensation for some people, gardening gloves are recommended.
Toxic principle
protoanemonin
Contact dermatitis
Yes
Toxicity summary
High severity poison; parts: Flowers; Leaves; Sap/Juice; contact dermatitis

Planted at Hunnicutt

Nobody’s planted this one yet.