Clematis virginiana – Virgin’s Bower

A very vigorous vine that’s covered in pure white flowers with a light, sweet fragrance followed by ornamental seed heads on female plants. Virgin’s Bower looks a lot like a garden favorite, Sweet Autumn Clematis (C. terniflora) from Asia, but blooms considerably earlier. Sweet Autumn Clematis is an invasive plant in our area and its sale is restricted in New York. Plant our native species instead. Virgin’s Bower can also be used as a groundcover because it spreads from root sprouts as well as seeds. You do need to be careful where you place Virgin’s Bower because it can be a rampant grower. Flowers are attractive to a wide variety of pollinators and birds eat the seeds. Deer usually do not eat Virgin’s Bower.