Clematis occidentalis – Purple Clematis

Also called Purple Virgin’s Bower – an allusion to our common white Virgin’s Bower (C. virginiana). Purple Clematis though is a much rarer species occurring sporadically in rocky forests, rock outcrops, and cliffs in dry-mesic to mesic calcareous to circumneutral soils. We’ve seen this Clematis growing near Notch Lake in the Catskills so it should be cold hardy throughout our region. The delicate purple flowers are good-sized and a mature plant can be quite showy. Grow a few plants on a trellis or support for a quicker show.