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Clematis terniflora DC.
Sweet Autumn Virginsbower
Yam-leaf Clematis
Not native to Florida
Invasive exotics that have increased in abundance or frequency but have not yet altered Florida plant communities to the extent shown by Category I species.
Planting this species should be avoided and removal of existing plants may be desirable.
An occasional flowering vine of disturbed sites in some counties from the panhandle to the central peninsula. This native of Japan is also now found in much of the eastern United States, west into Texas to Nebraska, plus California. Also found in Ontario.
Numerous flowers appear in cymes typically from July through September. There are four white petal-like sepals, the petals are absent in this flower which is about 2.5cm (1 in.) wide. The anthers are up to 3mm (~1/8 in.) long. Leaves are opposite most often with five widely-spaced leaflets with long petioles. The leaflets are ovate from 2-10cm (~3/4 to 5 in.) long with entire (not toothed) margins. The vine is woody near the base with herbaceous green stems that climb over other plants. In Clematis terniflora pistils and fruit number from five to ten on each flowering head. The dull brown fruit is small and dry and 5-8mm (3/16 to 5/15 in.) long.
Clematis terniflora is a member of the Ranunculaceae - Buttercup family.
Other species of the Clematis genus in the Wild Florida Photo database:
Clematis catesbyana - SATINCURLS
Clematis crispa - SWAMP LEATHER-FLOWER
Clematis reticulata - NETLEAF LEATHER-FLOWER
Clematis virginiana - VIRGINSBOWER
Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants (Institute for Systemic Botany) profile for this species
iNaturalist profile for this species
USDA Plant Profile for this species
Date record last modified: Feb 22, 2024
