Find a plant:

Printer Friendly Add to My Favorites Pin It

Clematis terniflora (Sweet autumn clematis)

Photo/Illustration: Michelle Gervais

(Based on 7 user reviews)

Rate this plant

Plant Showcase - from our advertisers

Hardiness Zones:

Botanical Name: Clematis terniflora KLEM-ah-tiss ter-nih-FLOOR-ah

Common Name: Sweet autumn clematis Synonyms: C. dioscoreifolia, C. maximowicziana, C. paniculata Genus: Clematis

This deciduous, late-flowering twining vine with deep green leaves and profuse, fragrant white flowers is easy to grow and will thrive and bloom in shade. Star-shaped blossoms are 1 inch across, appearing from late August to October and maturing to attractive, plume-like seed heads. The shiny green foliage is leathery.
Noteworthy characteristics: Can self-seed invasively and has escaped cultivation and naturalized in the East and Midwest US. Without support, it will sprawl along the ground, covering up to 10 feet and choking most weeds.
Care: Prefers full sun and average, well-drained but moist soil. Extremely rampant growth habit that may need hard pruning in fall or early spring.
Propagation: Root softwood cuttings in spring, semi-ripe cuttings in early summer.
Problems: Wilt, powdery mildew, rust, fungal spots, and stem cankers are common. Scale insects, whiteflies, earwigs, aphids can occur.

Overview
User Reviews
Photos

Height	10 ft. to 15 ft.
Spread	6 ft. to 10 ft.
Growth Habit	Spreads
Growth Pace	Fast Grower;Invasive/Aggressive Grower
Light	Full Sun Only
Moisture	Medium Moisture
Maintenance	Low
Characteristics	Fragrant Flowers; Self Seeds; Showy Flowers; Showy Seed Heads
Bloom Time	Early Fall; Fall; Late Summer; Summer
Flower Color	White Flower
Uses	Beds and Borders, Ground Covers, Naturalizing, Trellis
Seasonal Interest	Summer Interest, Fall Interest
Type	Vines

Rate this plant

posted by Edmontonian
2/3/2013
Region: Mountain West
Zone: 3

While this plant is invasive in warmer climates, it is invaluable to us in Zone 3 where it is very hardy. There are not too many vines that can be grown in cold climates and Sweet Autumn Clematis is tough enough to survive our -40 C winter temperatures.

posted by DoubleDeuce
9/10/2012
Region: Northeast
Zone: 6

Easy care beautiful vine for quickly covering an old fence or arbor. The flowers that appear at the end of the summer are a welcome sight when the blooms on most other plants are gone. The fact that it tolerates shade is an added bonus.

posted by dianesgarden7
10/2/2010
Region: Midwest
Zone: 5

posted by nelzo
3/22/2010
Region: Midwest
Zone: 5

I'm in zone 5 in Michigan. This was planted in a mostly shady area, heavy clay soil. I didn't really expect it to grow, but it performed beautifully. Was very vigorous--I cut it to the ground each spring without problems. I guess it could be invasive in other climates, but it wasn't really a problem--you can simply cut off the parts you don't want. A really great plant for the late summer garden when other plants are starting to look a little tired.

posted by toosbrab
9/13/2009
Region: Midwest
Zone: 5

I have over 30 clematis and this is by far my favorite. Butterflies and bees love this plant and the fragrance is to die for. It grows outward from the ground to quickly fill in a fence where most other clematis grow straight up. You can grow this on a fence or over a stump or structure such as a garage or shed. This clematis is a pruning code 3 and I cut mine down every spring. This clematis takes no special care, dig a hole and throw it in and forget about it. No need to be gentle with this clematis, it is the most hardy clematis I have. I never have had a problem with self seeding. I highly recommend this plant. Don't be afraid of the size, just take it into consideration. I live in town and have 3 Sweet autum clematis.

posted by marie57
2/3/2009
Region: Northeast
Zone: 6

Do not plant this vine. The previous owners planted this on the side yard and it has killed the trees, it spreads through out my yard. I have spent the past 6 years pulling this out of the trees and yard.

posted by Arian
7/8/2008
Region: Mid-Atlantic
Zone: 8

I give this plant a rating of ZERO. In order to get this to post, I had to click on a leaf. In my home town, Manteo, NC, on the Outer Banks, this has become a noxious weed. It covers everything worse than Japanese honeysuckle, blocking the light and killing many fine, expensive shrubs. I spend much of my 'vacation' time trying to eradicate this beautiful, Kudzu-like criminal. PLEASE STOP RECOMMENDING IT!!

Click on a thumbnail to see a full sized image

Plants you might also like

Clematis viticella 'Alba Luxurians'
Be the first to rate this plant

Hardiness Zones:

'Alba Luxurians' is a very tough, late-flowering climber with small flowers that open from midsummer to late autumn. White blossoms are sometimes faintly tinged with mauve when young, and are open, bell-shaped, single, and 2 to 3 inches across. Foliage is slightly gray-green.

Clematis tangutica 'Golden Tiara'
(Russian virgin's bower)

(1 user review)

Hardiness Zones:

'Golden Tiara' is a vigorous, late-flowering climbing vine to 15 or 20 feet tall with intense golden-yellow, bell-shaped flowers that eventually fully open to reveal crimson filaments. It blooms profusely from midsummer to late fall. The seedheads are fluffy and attractive in their own right. Native to western China.

Clematis 'Ernest Markham'

(1 user review)

Hardiness Zones:

'Ernest Markham' is a vigorous, late-flowering climber with abundant small flowers in summer. Blossoms are rich magenta, 4 inches across, with blunt-tipped sepals and light chocolate anthers.

Clematis crispa
(Marsh clematis, Blue jasmine, Curly clematis) Be the first to rate this plant

Hardiness Zones:

A deciduous climber native to the southeastern United States, Clematis crispa bears lavender-blue, bell-shaped flowers with curly edges in summer. Its blooms are not profuse, but their elegant shape makes this plant a good choice for trellises, growing through shrubs, or planting in damp areas. The flowers are slightly fragrant and are followed by attractive seedheads. It also makes an unusual cut flower.

Clematis ‘Nelly Moser’

(2 user reviews)

Hardiness Zones:

'Nellie Moser' is easy to grow, producing large, flat flowers 6 to 8 inches in diameter with distinctive, gleaming lilac bars on each petal. This clematis blooms from May to late June, with a second, less profuse bloom in mid-August. Planted in a shady spot, the cheery pink-and-mauve-striped blossoms last for weeks instead of days.

Alliums All Season Long
Deer resistant and dynamic, these bulbs provide color from the first showers of spring to the last leaves of fall by Stephanie Cohen