Description and biology ⁹

• Plant: climbing, deciduous to semi-evergreen, perennial vine.
• Leaves: opposite, compound 3 leaflets; leaflets are 2-3 in. long and have entire (non-toothed) margins.
• Flowers, fruits and seeds: flowers are produced late summer through fall; flowers are white with four petals; seeds are produced in profusion and are showy due to long, silvery-gray, feather-like hairs attached.
• Spreads: by wind-dispersed seed.
• Look-alikes: There are dozens of native species of Clematis in the U.S. including several that are quite rare. Devil’s darning needles (C. virginiana), the species most likely to be confused with sweet autumn virginsbower due to its similar looking white flowers, has leaves that are compound and toothed. The much cultivated and highly popular ornamental Clematis vines with large, showy flowers in a wide variety of colors from white to rose to purple, typically with eight or more petals, have not been reported to be invasive.

Distribution and habitat in the united states ¹⁰

Sweet autumn virginsbower is documented to occur in much of the eastern U.S. from Minnesota to Vermont, south to Texas and Florida. It has been reported to be invasive in Alabama, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia, although it is probably invasive in additional states where it occurs. It prefers full sun but can tolerate partial shade.

Ecological threat in the united states ¹¹

This species is found invading forest edges, right-of-ways and urban areas along streams and roads. It grows vigorously over other vegetation, forming dense blankets that block sunlight to the plants underneath. In late summer infestations are conspicuous as a result of its abundant showy white flowers.

Sources and Credits

1. (c) -NjuTIKA-, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://www.flickr.com/photos/44468093@N04/4161227254
2. (c) Carrie Seltzer, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Carrie Seltzer
3. (c) Jenny Glenn, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Jenny Glenn
4. (c) telyassoff, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by telyassoff
5. (c) Ashley M Bradford, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Ashley M Bradford
6. (c) abtahima, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
7. (c) Laura Clark, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Laura Clark
8. (c) Sara Rall, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Sara Rall
9. (c) Unknown, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/22734049
10. (c) Unknown, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/22734047
11. (c) Unknown, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/22734048

More Info

• iNat taxon page
• Atlas of Living Australia
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• Calflora
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• eFloras.org
• Flora of North America (beta)
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
• Go Botany
• HOSTS - a Database of the World's Lepidopteran Hostplants
• IPNI (with links to POWO, WFO, and BHL)
• Jepson eFlora
• Maryland Biodiversity Project
• NatureServe Explorer 2.0
• New Zealand Plant Conservation Network
• SEINet Symbiota portals
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• USDA PLANTS database
• VASCAN by Canadensys
• World Flora Online
• 日本のレッドデータ検索システム
• 植物和名−学名インデックス YList

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