Virgin's Bower
Clematis virginiana
Clouds of fragrant white flowers in August, then silvery seed heads that look frosted in autumn light. A naturalizing vine with two seasons of show.
Typically 1 quart–3 gal · $17–$85 · final price at pickup
- Thu, Aug 138 AM – 4 PM
- Fri, Aug 148 AM – 4 PM
- Sat, Aug 158 AM – 2 PM
White fragrant clouds in August when nothing else is flowering, followed by silvery seed heads that look frosted through fall. a vine with two acts.
Virgin's bower is the native clematis that turns hedgerows and woodland edges into clouds of white in late summer. Masses of small, sweetly fragrant flowers appear in August and September when most other vines have finished. Then the silvery, feathery seed heads take over: persistent, wispy, and catching the light on autumn mornings in a way that makes the whole plant look frosted. This is a naturalizing vine, best suited to informal settings where it can thread through shrubs and fences rather than a tidy trellis. Birds use the fluffy seed heads as nesting material in spring. Native bees work the late-season flowers when not much else is blooming. It's a vine with two distinct seasons of interest and the ecological value to match.
A nursery-grown plant, ready for the ground.
Healthy, container-grown virgin's bower propagated on-site at Hill House from regional genetics. Includes a one-page care card. We make every effort to supply plants as listed; occasionally we substitute a similar species of equal value.
Plant virgin's bower instead of Native alternative to sweet autumn clematis (Clematis terniflora). Same job in the garden, without the spread.
- Sun
- Full sun
- Water
- Average
- Mature size
- 10–20 ft · 36–72 in wide
- Bloom time
- August–September
- Bloom color
- White
- USDA zones
- 3–8
- Family
- Ranunculaceae
- Native range
- Eastern North America
Care notes for virgin's bower.
Full sun to part shade, average moisture, adaptable soil. Cut back hard in late winter. it blooms on new wood, so aggressive pruning is rewarded with better flowers. Tolerates drought once established. Spreads by seed; deadhead if you want to control volunteers, or leave seed heads for wildlife and winter interest.
Pairs well with these.
Same light, same soil, same wildlife. Janet's picks to plant alongside virgin's bower.
Or skip the guesswork.
Curated packages bundle complementary species for an instant habitat. One reservation, one pickup day, a printed layout map.
Short on Space Package
For gardeners who have an abundance of passion but are short on space, this package features tidy, upright, clump-forming natives that behave and function well in small spaces.
Shade Bed Package
Ferns, sedges, and woodland natives that thrive under existing trees.
Birder’s Paradise Package
For the avid bird watchers and budding ornithologists in our community, the Birder’s Paradise Package consists of species that Hill House Nursery staff and longtime native plant advocates such as Doug Tallamy consider ‘premier bird garden plants’.