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Old man's beard
ExplorePlants
Old man's beard
Clematis vitalba
Old man's beard is a climbing plant with fluffy white flowers that look like soft beards! It grows on walls, trees, and fences, making nature look beautiful.
Habitat: Urban areas
Appearance
The Old man's beard is a vigorous, woody climbing vine with light green leaves. It has small, greenish-white flowers in summer, which transform into distinctive fluffy, silvery-white seed heads resembling an old man's beard.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderRanunculalesFamilyRanunculaceaeGenusClematis
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
2/5 · Low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
It's sometimes called "Traveller's Joy" because it often grows along ancient travel routes!
Its fluffy seed heads look like an old man's white beard, giving it its memorable common name!
Rubbing fresh leaves on skin can cause a burning sensation, used historically as a blistering agent!
This vine can grow so fast, it can completely cover fences, trees, and buildings in one season!
Special abilities
Ability
Grappling Grip
Old man's beard can climb high using its leaf stalks as tendrils, twisting around supports to reach sunlight.
Ability
Wind Whisperer
This plant has fluffy, feathery seed tails that help its seeds catch the wind and travel far from the parent plant.
Ability
Smothering Star
Old man's beard grows very quickly, forming dense mats of foliage that can cover and shade out other plants below it.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 300-3000 cm
- Flower Size
- 1.5-3 cm
- Bloom Season
- Summer-autumn
- Edible
- No
- Toxicity
- Mild
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Pollination Method
- Insect
Ecological connections
pollinates
Honey bee
Apis mellifera
collects nectar and pollen from flowers
shelters
Blackcap
Sylvia atricapilla
uses dense tangles for nesting and cover
depends on
Common hawthorn
Crataegus monogyna
can be smothered by vigorous growth
eats
Gypsy moth
Lymantria dispar
caterpillars feed on its leaves
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
Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons.
Flowering
Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
Fall Color
Fall color refers to the seasonal change in foliage pigmentation, primarily in deciduous plants, displaying vibrant hues.
Pollinator Magnet
Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
Rapid Growing
Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period.
Urban Friendly
This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces.
Also known as
Traveller's Joy
Collections
Safety
Danger
2/5 · Low
Don't touch the plant without asking an adult, as some parts can be irritating.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to identify Old man's beard?
The easiest way to identify Old man's beard is to use the Snappit nature identifier app.
How tall is Old man's beard?
300-3000 cm
How big are the flowers on Old man's beard?
1.5-3 cm
When does Old man's beard bloom?
Summer-autumn
Is Old man's beard edible?
No
Is Old man's beard toxic?
Mild
What is Old man's beard's lifecycle?
Perennial
How is Old man's beard pollinated?
Insect
Snap Map
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