Clematis terniflora
Common name: 
Sweet Autumn Clematis,
Sweet Autumn Virginsbower,
Leatherleaf Clematis,
Japanese Clematis
Pronunciation: 
KLEM-a-tis ter-ni-FLO-ra
Family: 
Ranunculaceae
Genus: 
Clematis
Type: 
Broadleaf
Native to (or naturalized in) Oregon: 
No
  • Semi-evergreen or deciduous semi-woody, rampant vine, may grow to 15 or even 30 ft (5-9 m) high.  Leaves opposite, pinnately compound, 3-5 leaflets, each about 5-8 cm long, cordate or ovate shape, margin entire, occasionally lobed, glossy dark green.  Flowers fragrant, white, about 3 cm wide, with 4 narrow, wide spreading, sepals, borne many (3-12) per axillary or terminal cluster (cyme or panicle), summer flowering.  Vines can be so covered with masses of white flowers that the plant appears to covered with new fallen snow (Dirr, 1989).
  • Sun, well-drained soil.  Considered one of the easiest Clematis to grow, in fact it may become a weed.  It is widely naturalized in the eastern United States. 
  • Hardy to USDA Zone 5      Native to Japan
  • terniflora: flowers in threes, actually clusters may contain 3-12 flowers.
Click image to enlarge
  • plant habit, flowering

    plant habit, flowering

  • flowers

    flowers