Virgin's Bower

Clematis virginiana

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.