Clematis viticella
Common name: 
Italian Clematis
Pronunciation: 
KLEM-a-tis vi-ti-SEL-lah
Family: 
Ranunculaceae
Genus: 
Type: 
Broadleaf
Native to (or naturalized in) Oregon: 
No
  • Deciduous semi-woody vine or ground cover, 10-13 ft (3-4 m).  Leaves opposite, compound, pinnately 5-foliate, rarely trifoliate; leaflets to 6.5cm, often 2-3 lobed, entire, dense pubescence, especially below.  Flowers 4 cm diam., on slender stalks, blue, purple or rose purple, and white.
  • Sun
  • Hardy to USDA Zone (4)5      Native to southern Europe.  Cultivated in England since the 16th century.  A number of cultivars, some of which are actually of hybrid origin.
  • Two cultivars: 'Polish Spirit', purple-blue flowers; 'Huldine', flowers white with pink stripe on the underside
  • viticella: a diminutive of Vitis (grape), hence a small vine.
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