# autumn clematis (*Clematis terniflora*) Autumn clematis is a beautiful climbing flower that blooms in late summer and fall. Its lovely white flowers smell sweet and attract butterflies and bees, making gardens bright and lively. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 6 - **Habitat:** Urban areas - **Also known as:** Japanese Clematis, Sweet Autumn Clematis ![autumn clematis](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Virgin's_bower_%28Clematis_terniflora%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Virgin's_bower_%28Clematis_terniflora%29.jpg) ## Appearance The autumn clematis is a vigorous, woody vine boasting masses of small, star-shaped white flowers. Its dark green leaves provide a lush backdrop, and after blooming, the flowers transform into distinctive feathery seed heads. This dense growth habit makes it stand out. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Ranunculales - **Family:** Ranunculaceae - **Genus:** Clematis ## Interesting facts - After blooming, the flowers turn into fluffy 'fairy dust' seeds that look amazing! - Autumn clematis is also known as 'sweet autumn virginsbower' because of its fragrant flowers! - Its tiny white flowers create a powerful, sweet scent that can be smelled from far away! - This tough vine can quickly cover fences or climb tall trees up to 30 feet high! ## Special abilities - **Fragrant Beacon:** Autumn clematis has highly fragrant flowers that help it attract many different insects for pollination. - **Climbing Power:** Autumn clematis uses its twining leaf petioles to climb and grasp onto structures, reaching great heights. - **Fluffy Dispersal:** Its seeds grow long, feathery tails that help them float on the wind to new locations to reproduce. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 300-900 cm - **Spread:** 180-360 cm - **Flower Size:** 1-2 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late summer to fall - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Attracted to the nectar - **Pollinates:** [Common eastern bumble bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) — Feeds on abundant nectar - **Shelter:** [House sparrow](https://www.snappit.app/explore/house-sparrow) (*Passer domesticus*) — Nests in dense vine growth ## Traits - [Climbing/Vine](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/climbing-vine): Climbing or vine plants are characterized by a growth habit that allows them to ascend upwards by twining, tendrils, or adhesive roots. - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Cluster Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/cluster-flower): Cluster flowers are inflorescences where individual flowers are arranged closely together on a common stem. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always be gentle when touching flowers and ask an adult before picking them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify autumn clematis? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is autumn clematis? 300-900 cm ### How wide does autumn clematis spread? 180-360 cm ### How big are the flowers on autumn clematis? 1-2 cm ### When does autumn clematis bloom? Late summer to fall ### Is autumn clematis edible? No ### Is autumn clematis toxic? Mild ### What is autumn clematis's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Forest Hill Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/forest-hill-park) — Ohio, US · Park - [Fox Chase Farm](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fox-chase-farm) — Pennsylvania, US · Historic Site - [Buckingham Female Collegiate Institute Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/buckingham-female-collegiate-institute-historic-district) — Virginia, US · Historic District - [Capitol Hill](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/capitol-hill) — District of Columbia, US · Neighborhood - [Huntington Center Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/huntington-center-historic-district) — Connecticut, US · Historic District - [Reedville Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/reedville-historic-district) — Virginia, US · Historic District [View all places to see autumn clematis](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/autumn-clematis) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Autumn Clematis: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/autumn-clematis)