Clematis

Clematis · traveller's joy · virgin's bower · old man's beard · leather flower

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At a Glance

Traveller's joy is the familiar wild clematis of British hedgerows, a vigorous climbing perennial notable for its masses of small, fragrant, greenish-white summer flowers and the silky, feathery seed heads that follow. It is one of the most widely distributed native climbers in the UK and is valued both for its wildlife value and for its contribution to late-season garden interest.

Quick-Care Table

Overview

Clematis vitalba is a vigorous, woody-stemmed climber native to much of southern and central England and Wales, with a more scattered distribution further north. It is the only clematis truly native to the British Isles and is often seen scrambling over hawthorn, blackthorn and field maple along lanes, railway cuttings and woodland edges. In gardens it is grown either as a wildlife-friendly feature on a large pergola, through a mature tree, or along a substantial fence, where its exuberant growth can be an asset rather than a liability. The plant is also used in conservation planting, where it provides late-season nectar for insects and cover for nesting birds, and is a host plant for several species of moth caterpillar.

The common name "traveller's joy" is thought to refer to the pleasure afforded to walkers encountering it along country lanes in late summer, when the flowers and emerging seed heads are at their best. The alternative name "old man's beard" describes the silvery-white, feathery fruiting heads that persist well into winter. The plant is a member of the buttercup family (Ranunculaceae) and shares the genus with the more familiar large-flowered hybrid clematis grown on garden walls and obelisks, although traveller's joy is considerably more vigorous and less ornamental in flower.

Appearance

The leaves are pinnately compound, typically divided into five coarsely toothed leaflets that are bright to mid-green. The leaflets are roughly heart-shaped at the base and taper to a point, often 3–10 cm long. Stems are slender, woody with age, and slightly ribbed; they climb by twining their leaf petioles around any available support, a method that allows the plant to clamber through shrubs and into tree canopies.

The flowers appear in loose, branched clusters from mid-summer. Each bloom is small (around 2 cm across) and consists of four to five creamy-white sepals surrounding a tuft of stamens; the true petals are absent or reduced. They carry a faint, sweet scent that becomes more pronounced in still, warm air. After pollination the styles elongate into the silvery-grey, feathered tails that give the plant its winter display, each seed head persisting on the plant from late summer well into the following spring.

Growing Conditions

Clematis vitalba is exceptionally tolerant of soil type and is most often found in the wild on calcareous substrates, but it grows equally well on clay, loam and lighter soils provided drainage is reasonable. It tolerates a pH range from mildly acidic to strongly alkaline and will colonise chalk downland, roadside banks and old walls. A position in full sun encourages the heaviest flowering, though the species is one of the more shade-tolerant clematis and will flower satisfactorily on a north- or east-facing wall or in the dappled shade of a woodland edge.

Moisture is the main soil requirement: the plant resents prolonged drought at the root, particularly during its main growing season. Mulching in spring with garden compost or well-rotted manure helps to conserve moisture and feeds the plant over the course of the year. Once established it is hardy throughout the UK and tolerates exposed as well as sheltered positions; very harsh, exposed northern or upland sites may slow establishment but rarely kill established plants.

Planting and Care

Planting is best done in autumn or early spring while the soil is moist and the plant is not in active top growth. Dig a hole at least twice the width of the rootball, fork over the base and incorporate well-rotted organic matter. Clematis are often planted with the crown 5–8 cm below soil level to encourage strong basal shoots, and this technique is just as applicable to Clematis vitalba as to its hybrid relatives. Water in thoroughly and keep watered during the first growing season.

Watering: water deeply once or twice a week during dry spells in the first year; thereafter supplementary watering is rarely required except in prolonged drought. A thick organic mulch renewed each spring helps maintain even soil moisture.

Feeding: a general-purpose slow-release fertiliser applied in spring is sufficient for most situations. On poor soils an additional liquid feed (such as a seaweed-based product) during early summer will support the strong extension growth the plant is known for.

Pruning: traveller's joy flowers on the current season's growth and tolerates hard pruning. The standard method is the "Group 3" treatment used for late-flowering clematis: cut all stems back hard to within 30–60 cm of the base in late winter (February or early March) before growth resumes. Less drastically, the plant can be cut back to a framework of woody stems every two or three years. Where it is grown through a tree or large shrub, selective thinning of older, congested stems is often more practical than hard annual pruning.

Propagation: easily raised from seed sown in autumn or from semi-ripe cuttings taken in summer. Seed requires a period of cold stratification and may take one or two seasons to germinate; cuttings root reliably in a shaded frame.

Seasonal care: little routine work is needed beyond annual pruning and mulching. The fluffy seed heads can be left on the plant for winter display or removed in early spring. Wear gloves when handling, as the foliage can irritate sensitive skin.

Common Problems

Clematis vitalba is notably less troubled by the wilt diseases (clematis slime flux and the fungal stem rots) that affect large-flowered hybrid clematis, although it is not immune. The main issues in cultivation are:

• Vigour: in fertile soil the plant can grow 2–4 m in a single season and may overwhelm smaller supports, smother low shrubs, or seed itself into unsuitable places. In small gardens it requires firm containment.
• Self-seeding: birds carry the feathered seeds considerable distances, and seedlings can appear in lawns, borders and neighbouring gardens. Seedlings are easy to pull when young.
• Powdery mildew: in hot, dry summers the foliage may develop a white fungal coating, particularly where air circulation is poor. Mulching, watering at the base rather than overhead, and clearing fallen leaves in autumn help reduce pressure.
• Aphids: colonies can build up on the soft new growth in late spring; usually controlled by natural predators, but a strong jet of water or insecticidal soap will deal with heavier infestations.
• Skin irritation: like many Ranunculaceae, the fresh foliage contains compounds that can irritate skin; gloves are recommended for any substantial pruning.

In favourable seasons clematis can also develop slug and snail damage on the soft new shoots in spring, although the rapid extension growth usually outpaces grazing. Rabbit and deer browsing is occasionally reported where populations are high, particularly on young growth in winter.

The plant is not known to be toxic to humans or pets in any well-documented way, but as with many garden plants it should not be eaten. Pets occasionally chewing the foliage may show mild gastric upset; specific toxicity data for cats and dogs is not robustly established, so caution is advised.

Popular Varieties

Clematis vitalba is generally grown as the species, and named cultivars are few. The following are real selections and related forms that have been available in UK nurseries or in botanical collections, though availability can be limited:

• Clematis vitalba – the standard wild form, widely available as seed-grown plants and the most commonly offered option in UK nurseries.
• Clematis vitalba var. vitalba – the typical European form with the broadest natural distribution in Britain.
• Clematis vitalba 'Paul Farges' – a vigorous, more restrained selection occasionally offered by specialist clematis nurseries, valued for its prolific flowering; availability should be checked with the supplier.
• Clematis 'Early Sensation' (sometimes associated in older literature with the vitalba group) – a related evergreen or semi-evergreen form with earlier flowering, useful where a similar effect is wanted in a smaller space.

Where a similar but more controllable effect is desired, hybrid clematis such as Clematis 'Paul Farges' (also sold as 'Summer Snow') and Clematis tangutica can be considered as alternatives, though neither is the true native species.

Cultivars and Varieties

Pests and Diseases

For step-by-step help, read Controlling Aphids Naturally, Dealing with Slugs and Snails and Treating Powdery Mildew. Or browse the full plant problem solver to diagnose an issue by symptom.

Clematis in our guides

• Best Plants for Small Gardens and Tight Spaces
• How to Deadhead Flowers for More Blooms All Summer
• Autumn Garden Jobs