(Addison Brown's Clematis, Addison's Leather Flower, Clematis)

Although a rare American wildflower, Addison's leather flower adapts well to garden culture and proves to be easy to grow. Its crowning glory are the lavender-purple and creamy white flowers that occur in spring's warmth. This herbaceous perennial is native only to four counties in west-central Virginia, in the dry woodlands on non-acidic soils.

The plant forms a clump with multiple erect to sprawling stems. In some cases the stems twine around nearby plants to reach upward to the light. In mid-spring...

(Evergreen Chinese Clematis)

Introduced to Western gardens from China in the late 19th century, this often shrubby deciduous vine is best known by the form commonly sold as C. spooneri. In late spring, C. chrysocoma produces masses of fragrant, four-"petaled" flowers that are white to light pink with yellow anthers. They recur intermittently through summer. The stems and three-parted leaves are covered with yellow down. Attractive feathery seedheads follow the flowers. The form sold as C. spooneri is a strongly climbing plant...

(Virgin's Bower)

An early-blooming clematis from China and the Himalayas, this large, vigorous, woody vine bears masses of elegant flowers from mid to late spring. The long-stemmed, white or pink, often fragrant blooms have four segments and a central starburst of pale yellow stamens. Attractive plumed fruits follow the flowers. The three-parted, dark green, deciduous leaves have clasping stalks which enable the vine to cling to supports. This long-lived plant is capable of reaching mammoth proportions over time,...

(Clematis, Curlyheads)

Just like blooming Virginia bluebells, curlyheads are a sign of spring's return. The nodding, urn- to bell-shaped flowers are the "curlyheads" of fame, but the ensuing seed head is an ornamental spectacle. This clump-forming herbaceous perennial is a rare native of the dry woodlands from southern New Jersey to northern Georgia. It often pops up over limestone rocks in sunny woodland openings.

The stems grow erect or partially flop; this is not a vining clematis species whatsoever. The hairy stems...

(Chinese Clematis)

A small, modestly growing vine, Chinese clematis has spring-occuring flowers of a pale mauve-pink with purple stamens. Very early blooming in the world of clematis it's a deciduous perennial vine native to eastern China, Korea and Japan. It is usually found growing at the edges of woodlands. Flower size and shape varies considerably among plants in the wild, and is one reason this species was historically used to develop the earlier-flowering and differently shaped flowers of modern garden clematis...

(Chinese Clematis, Wada's Primrose Clematis)

Clematis ‘Manshuu Ki’ displays many large, fragrant, pale primrose flowers in late spring to early summer. It is a selection of a deciduous perennial vine native to eastern China, Korea and Japan which typically inhabits the edges of woodlands. This cultivar is sometimes sold under the name ‘Wada’s Primrose’.

The rich green leaves of this species are composed of three smaller, teardrop-shaped leaflets, and are borne sparsely on slender, climbing stems that seldom grow taller than head-height....

(Korean Clematis)

Leaves with toothed edges visually compliment the many small, nodding yellow flower buds and blossoms of Clematis serratifolia. Native to gravelly soils and slopes of far eastern Siberia, northern Japan and Korea, this woody vine blooms in late summer.

The three leaflets that make up each leaf are lance-shaped, rich green in color, and lines with jagged teeth. In mid- to late summer, many small, nodded and round yellow flower buds appear on slender stems above the foliage. Each opens...

(Golden Tiara Korean Clematis, Golden Tiara® Clematis)

An award-winner in both North America and Europe, clematis ‘Kugotia’ (usually sold under the name Golden Tiara®) displays multitudes of golden yellow blooms in summer. It is a selection of a species native to gravelly soils and slopes of far eastern Siberia, northern Japan and Korea, and is notable for its vigor and heavy-flowering habit.

The rich green leaves of this woody vine are composed of three smaller, lance-shaped leaflets with broadly toothed edges. Beginning in midsummer, many starry,...

(Sweet Autumn Clematis, Sweet Autumn Virginsbower)

Sweet autumn clematis is a very vigorous growing deciduous or semi-evergreen vine native to Japan. Throughout the summer its dark green foliage canopy can provide dense shade and screening on arbors and trellises. In the fall it is covered with small, creamy white star-like blooms which give off a wonderful sweet fragrance. Later in the fall, it is covered with silvery, downy seed heads for added visual interest.

Plant the sweet autumn clematis in a sunny location, but will perform remarkably...

(Late Small-flowered Clematis, Scarlet Clematis)

One of the most drought-tolerant flowering clematis vines extant, the scarlet clematis' blue-green leaves and red flowers highlight this plant's beauty. It is native only to the southeastern Edwards Plateau in central Texas. This deciduous woody vine blooms from very early summer to fall, often reblooming up until the killing frost.

The three leaflets comprising each leaf are rounded and a medium green with a hint of blue-green. Leaves are held in opposite pairs on the vining stems. In the...