Sweet Autumn Virginsbower Clematis terniflora de CandolleNon-native  -  Invasive    Synonyms: Clematis dioscoreifolia, Clematis paniculata, Japanese Clematis, Leatherleaf Clematis, Yam-leaved Clematis.
Kingdom Plantae   >   Division Tracheophyta   >   Class Magnoliopsida   >   Order Ranunculales   >   Family Ranunculaceae   >   Genus Clematis   

Status:

Sweet Autumn Virginsbower is an invasive plant from Asia. This exotic clematis has escaped from the plant trade and has become established across most of Maryland. Sweet Autumn Virginsbower forms dense mats of either climbing or creeping vines that choke out all other plants that are growing underneath.

Description:

Superficially resembles our native Virginia Clematis but the leaves of our native clematis are typically cleft or coarsely toothed while the leaves of Sweet Autumn Virginsbower are smooth and entire. The seeds of Sweet Autumn Virginsbower often appear more feathery than the smoother seeds of Virginia Clematis.

Where to find:

Sweet Autumn Virginsbower grows along hedgerows and forest edges and other open or semi-shaded habitats.

There are 381 records in the project database.

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Sweet Autumn Virginsbower in Howard Co., Maryland (9/14/2016). Photo by Bill Harms. (MBP list)

Sweet Autumn Virginsbower blooming along a wooded edge near Fort Smallwood, Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (8/30/2012). Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

Sweet Autumn Virginsbower blooming in Cecil Co., Maryland (9/9/2017). Photo by Josh Emm. (MBP list)

Blooming Sweet Autumn Virginsbower in Baltimore City, Maryland (10/4/2014). Photo by Jim Brighton. (MBP list)

Sweet Autumn Virginsbower blooming in St. Mary's Co., Maryland (9/6/2015). Photo by Tyler Bell. (MBP list)

Sweet Autumn Virginsbower blooming in Washington Co., Maryland (9/10/2020). Photo by Dave Webb. (MBP list)

Sweet Autumn Virginsbower in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (8/16/2016). Photo by Wayne Longbottom. (MBP list)

Sweet Autumn Virginsbower blooming in Baltimore Co., Maryland (8/31/2016). Photo by Rose Anderson. (MBP list)

Sweet Autumn Virginsbower blooming in Frederick Co., Maryland (9/4/2015). Photo by Sue Muller. (MBP list)

Sweet Autumn Virginsbower in Talbot Co., Maryland (11/22/2016). Photo by Wayne Longbottom. (MBP list)

Sweet Autumn Virginsbower in Kent Co., Maryland (9/1/2013). Photo by Ashley Bradford. (MBP list)

The seeds of Sweet Autumn Virginsbower in Prince George's Co., Maryland (1/5/2020). Photo by Jim Brighton. (MBP list)

Sweet Autumn Virginsbower in flower in Montgomery Co., Maryland (9/2/2016). Photo by Bill Hill. (MBP list)

Sweet Autumn Virginsbower in Harford Co., Maryland (12/6/2015). Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

Sweet Autumn Virginsbower in Worcester Co., Maryland (9/4/2020). (c) johnbotany, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by John Hall. (MBP list)

Sweet Autumn Virginsbower in Talbot Co., Maryland (5/27/2017). Photo by Jim Brighton. (MBP list)


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MBP marks as "Invasive" any taxon listed in the Maryland Invasive Species Council (MISC) list of Invasive Species of Concern in Maryland. You can read their criteria and review the lists here: https://mdinvasives.org/species-of-concern/.