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Curlyhead

Clematis ochroleuca (klem-AH-tiss owk-roh-LEW-ka)

Family: Ranunculaceae Native Herbaceous (1-3 ft)

Curlyhead clematis is a native, woody, perennial sub-shrub in the buttercup family (Ranunculaceae) found in dry woodlands, sandy grasslands or disturbed sites in the eastern United States, including the piedmont (and rarely, mountains) of North Carolina. The epithet is Latin for “yellowish white,” which describes the flower color of some color forms. Plant in full sun to partial shade and in moist to occasionally dry, well-drained soils. In the wild, it can be found growing in limestone-derived soils, a fact that suggests this plant tolerates alkaline soils. It is especially difficult to propagate by cuttings, so propagation by seed is a better option. It has a neat habit, growing 1 to 2 feet tall and 1 foot wide. The fuzzy, pendulous, solitary, bell-shaped flowers occur in April to June, and the seed heads that follow are quite ornamental. The flowers come in several colors: yellowish white, pale blue or pale pink on the inside and darker on the outside. They all attract bees. Curlyhead clematis looks at home in native or rock gardens, woodlands or perennial borders. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems 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, 54 attributes.

How it fits the guild

Guild layer 4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
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
Herbaceous Perennial; Native Plant; Perennial; Shrub
Life cycle
Perennial
USDA zones
4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 3 in.
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Clumping; Multi-stemmed
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite; Whorled
Leaf shape
Ovate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Soft
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
Ovate green leaves with entire margins
Flower color
Blue; Cream/Tan; Gold/Yellow; Pink; Purple/Lavender; White
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Solitary
Flower shape
Bell; Urn
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Pendulous fuzzy yellow-white to cream-colored bells with purple, blue or pink tones that bloom April-June
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Gold/Yellow
Fruit type
Achene
Fruit detail
Seedheads look like fuzzy curly whorls and are available August-September.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Eastern U.S.A.
Distribution
GA , NC , NY , SC , VA
Wildlife value
Bees are attracted to the flowers.
Attracts
Bees
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Fall; Summer
Fruit type
Achene
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Coastal; Small Space; Woodland
Landscape theme
Native Garden; Pollinator Garden; Rock Garden
Design feature
Border
Garden tags
#NC native #rock garden #clumping #native shrub #small spaces #subshrub #disturbed areas #hairy leaves #problem for cats #food source hard mast fruit #food source nectar #food source pollen #hummingbird friendly #problem for dogs #problem for horses #bird friendly #border planting #Audubon #butterfly friendly #bee friendly #vertical spaces #low maintenance #th-sight #th-touch #woodland
Problems & Resistance
Problems
Problem for Cats; Problem for Dogs; Problem for Horses
Propagation
Seed
Poison severity
Low
Poison symptoms
Salivation, vomiting, diarrhea.
Toxic principle
Irritant glycoside (Protoanemonin)
Contact dermatitis
No
Toxicity summary
Low severity poison

Planted at Hunnicutt

Nobody’s planted this one yet.