# virgin's-bower (*Clematis virginiana*) Virgin's-bower is a beautiful climbing flower that can grow on fences and trees. It has lovely white flowers that bloom in the summer and turn into fluffy seed heads in the fall. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 6 - **Habitat:** Woodlands - **Also known as:** Virginia clematis ![virgin's-bower](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Clematis_virginiana_001.JPG&width=800) Photo: User:SB_Johnny, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Clematis_virginiana_001.JPG) ## Appearance The virgin's-bower has abundant clusters of small, star-shaped, fragrant white flowers. Its leaves are typically composed of three bright green leaflets. Later, it develops unique, feathery silver-white seed heads that make it visually distinctive. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Ranunculales - **Family:** Ranunculaceae - **Genus:** Clematis ## Interesting facts - After blooming, its seeds grow long, feathery tails that look like an "old man's beard." - Its scientific name, Clematis, comes from an ancient Greek word for "a climbing plant." - Native Americans traditionally used parts of this plant for various medicinal purposes. - This fast-growing vine can completely cover fences or arbors in just one summer! ## Special abilities - **Rapid Climber:** Virgin's-bower can quickly grasp onto supports with its twisting leaf stalks, helping it climb high for sunlight. - **Wind Rider Seeds:** Virgin's-bower has long, feathery tails on its seeds that catch the wind, helping them travel far and wide. - **Chemical Shield:** Virgin's-bower contains chemicals in its sap that can deter most hungry herbivores from eating its leaves. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 300-600 cm - **Flower Size:** 1.5-3 cm - **Bloom Season:** Summer_early_fall - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Common Eastern Bumblebee (*Bombus impatiens*) — gathers nectar and pollen - **Pollinates:** European Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — collects nectar for honey - **Pollinates:** [Monarch Butterfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/monarch-butterfly) (*Danaus plexippus*) — sips nectar from its blooms - **Eaten by:** [White-tailed Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — occasionally browses its foliage ## 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. - [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. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always ask an adult before touching plants, just to be safe! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify virgin's-bower? 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 virgin's-bower? 300-600 cm ### How big are the flowers on virgin's-bower? 1.5-3 cm ### When does virgin's-bower bloom? Summer_early_fall ### Is virgin's-bower edible? No ### Is virgin's-bower toxic? Mild ### What is virgin's-bower's lifecycle? Perennial ### How is virgin's-bower pollinated? Insect ## Where to spot - [South Mountain Reservation](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/south-mountain-reservation) — New Jersey, US · Nature Reserve - [Harvard Shaker Village Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/harvard-shaker-village-historic-district) — Massachusetts, US · Historic District - [Hensley Settlement](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/hensley-settlement) — Kentucky, US · Museum - [Luverne Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/luverne-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District - [Ole Bull State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ole-bull-state-park) — Pennsylvania, US · State Park - [Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/pleasant-valley-wildlife-sanctuary) — Massachusetts, US · Nature Reserve [View all places to see virgin's-bower](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/virgins-bower) ## 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: [Virgin's-bower: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/virgins-bower)