Devil's Darning Needles

Clematis virginiana

Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Ranunculaceae
Genus:
Clematis
Species:
Clematis virginiana

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Perennial
Growth Habit:
Vine
Height:
12-20 ft
Light Requirements:
Full Sun, Part Shade, Shade
Drought Tolerance:
Low
Bloom Months:
jul, aug, sep
Bloom Colors:
White, Green, Brown

Native Range

United States: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Canada: Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec

Keystone Species Ranking

Caterpillar Keystone:
★★★★☆ Based on number of butterfly and moth species using this genus as host plant (Source: National Wildlife Federation)

Host Plant for Caterpillars

Alcathoe caudata, satyr pug (Eupithecia satyrata)

Reported Fauna Sightings

Bees: Bombus bimaculatus (Bombus bimaculatus), Bombus bimaculatus (Bombus bimaculatus), Bombus impatiens (Bombus impatiens), Bombus impatiens (Bombus impatiens), Bombus perplexus (Bombus perplexus), Bombus perplexus (Bombus perplexus), Bombus ternarius (Bombus ternarius), Bombus ternarius (Bombus ternarius), bumblebee (Bombus Latreille), bumblebee (Bombus Latreille), Half-black bumble bee (Bombus vagans), Half-black bumble bee (Bombus vagans), Red-belted bumble bee (Bombus rufocinctus), Red-belted bumble bee (Bombus rufocinctus), 🛑Rusty-patched bumble bee (Bombus affinis), 🛑Rusty-patched bumble bee (Bombus affinis)

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
rich, well-drained loamy soil
pH:
6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:
tolerates poor drainage
Moisture:
consistently moist
Notes:
prefers riverbanks and woodland edges

Germination Information

Pre-treatment: Seeds are stratified in mesh bags in moist sand for 60 days in a cooler at 40°F with 35% relative humidity. A fungicidal drench is applied prior to stratification to prevent mildew.

Establishment: Seeds can also be sown in germination mix in 392 plug trays, drenched with fungicide, wrapped in plastic and stratified with satisfactory results. Bottom heat and mist have also yielded good results during the establishment phase.

Source: npn.rngr.net