• Photo of Clematis viticella (Clematis viticellas)

Plant Profile: Clematis viticella

Taxonomy: Clematis viticella

Names

Italian Clematis

  • Photo of Clematis viticella (Clematis viticellas)

Phonetic Spelling:KLEM-ah-tiss vy-tee-CHELL-uh

Genus:Clematis

Species:viticella

Family:Ranunculaceae

This versatile vine, which can be either deciduous or evergreen, showcases a variety of colors and features numerous stamens along with small, dry fruits that each possess a silky, feathery tail. Known for its climbing ability, this plant can be trained to serve as a stunning backdrop or even to adorn an arbor. With its twisting petioles, it thrives beautifully when planted along fences, in woodland settings, or within Victorian-style gardens.

This vine flowers on new growth, so it’s essential to perform a severe pruning in early spring (Pruning group 3). It prefers full sunlight but requires shade for its roots.

Potential Issues:

Young roots may be at risk from slugs, snails, and voles, while aphids can target new growth. Although this plant is prone to powdery mildew, it shows strong resistance to clematis wilt.

 

Clematis viticella Feature Summary

Clematis viticella Image Gallery

Tags

#purple
#showy flowers
#deciduous
#poisonous
#full sun tolerant
#houseplant
#blue
#fall flowers
#easy to grow
#purple flowers
#pink flowers
#partial sun
#climbing
#fall interest
#cottage garden
#fast growing
#fences
#trellises
#vines
#summer flowers
#large flowers
#vibrant
#exotic looking
#twining vine
#arbor
#problem for cats
#problem for dogs
#problem for horses
#woodlands
#container plants

Similar Plants

Clematis viticella is often confused with:

Clematis viticella Feature Summary

Fruit
Small, dry fruits (each with a silky-plumose tail). It has whorled seed heads.
Flowers
Many colors and showy stamens, flowers in mid to late summer with 4-8 petal-like parts 3" across on new wood, so severely prune in early spring.
Pink
Purple/Lavender
Blue
Showy
Long Bloom Season
4-5 petals/rays
Colored Sepals
1-3 inches
Leaves
Leaves are alternate and pinnately divided.
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Poisonous to Humans
All species are toxic-- and all parts are toxic. CAUSES SEVERE PAIN IN THE MOUTH IF EATEN! SKIN IRRITATION MINOR OR LASTING ONLY FOR A FEW MINUTES. Poisonous through dermatitis, ingestion, and inhalation. Symptoms include a burning sensation of mouth and mouth ulcers; skin redness and burning sensation, salivation, vomiting, diarrhea.
Seeds
Leaves
Stems
Sap/Juice
Flowers
Fruits
Whole Plant Traits
Poisonous
Vine
Spreading
Climbing
Cascading
Medium
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Good Drainage
Moist
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
4a
4b
5b
5a
6a
6b
7a
7b
8b
8a
Clay
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Landscape
Cottage Garden
Screen/Privacy
Container
Patio
Woodland
Naturalized Area
Rock Wall
Vertical Spaces
Butterflies
Bees
Hummingbirds
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Cats
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Contact Dermatitis
Problem for Children

Clematis viticella Attributes

Clematis viticella: Country Or Region Of Origin

Southern Europe to Asia

Clematis viticella: Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems)

resistant to wilting

Clematis viticella: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Clematis viticella: Recommended Propagation Strategy

Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting

Clematis viticella: Climbing Method

Clinging
Scrambler
Tendrils
Twining

Clematis viticella Fruit

Clematis viticella: Fruit Description

Small, dry fruits (each with a silky-plumose tail). It has whorled seed heads.

Clematis viticella: Fruit Type

Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua

Clematis viticella: Fruit Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy

Clematis viticella Flowers

Clematis viticella: Flower Description

Many colors and showy stamens, flowers in mid to late summer with 4-8 petal-like parts 3" across on new wood, so severely prune in early spring.

Clematis viticella: Flower Color

filter_vintage
Blue
filter_vintage
Pink
filter_vintage
Purple/Lavender

Clematis viticella: Flower Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy

Clematis viticella: Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Clematis viticella: Flower Petals

2-3 rays/petals
4-5 petals/rays
6 petals/rays
7 - 20 petals/rays
asymmetrical petals
Bracts
Colored Sepals
fused petals
more than 20 petals/rays
Tepals

Clematis viticella: Flower Shape

Bell
Cross
Crown
Cup
Dome
Funnel
Irregular
Lipped
Radial
Saucer
Star
Trumpet
Tubular
Urn
Wheel

Clematis viticella: Flower Size

1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches

Clematis viticella Leaves

Clematis viticella: Leaf Description

Leaves are alternate and pinnately divided.

Clematis viticella: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Clematis viticella: Leaf Color

spa
Green

Clematis viticella: Leaf Type

Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple

Clematis viticella: Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Clematis viticella: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Clematis viticella Poisonous to Humans

Clematis viticella: Poison Symptoms

All species are toxic-- and all parts are toxic. CAUSES SEVERE PAIN IN THE MOUTH IF EATEN! SKIN IRRITATION MINOR OR LASTING ONLY FOR A FEW MINUTES. Poisonous through dermatitis, ingestion, and inhalation. Symptoms include a burning sensation of mouth and mouth ulcers; skin redness and burning sensation, salivation, vomiting, diarrhea.

Clematis viticella: Poison Toxic Principle

protoanemonin

Clematis viticella: Poison Severity

High
Low
Medium

Clematis viticella: Causes Contact Dermatitis

No
Yes

Clematis viticella: Poison Part

Bark
Flowers
Fruits
Leaves
Roots
Sap/Juice
Seeds
Stems

Clematis viticella Whole Plant Traits

Clematis viticella: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Clematis viticella: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Clematis viticella: Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Clematis viticella: Growth Rate

Slow
Medium
Rapid

Clematis viticella: Maintenance

Low
Medium
High

Clematis viticella: Texture

Fine
Medium
Coarse

Clematis viticella Cultural Conditions

Clematis viticella: Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Clematis viticella: Soil pH

Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)

Clematis viticella: Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Clematis viticella: NC Region

Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont

Clematis viticella: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
4a
thermostat
4b
thermostat
5a
thermostat
5b
thermostat
6a
thermostat
6b
thermostat
7a
thermostat
7b
thermostat
8a
thermostat
8b

Clematis viticella: Soil Texture

Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky

Clematis viticella Stem

Clematis viticella: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Clematis viticella Landscape

Clematis viticella: Landscape Theme

Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden

Clematis viticella: Design Feature

Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree

Clematis viticella: Resistance To Challenges

Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind

Clematis viticella: Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland

Clematis viticella: Attracts

Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees

Clematis viticella: Problems

Allelopathic
Contact Dermatitis
Frequent Disease Problems
Frequent Insect Problems
Invasive Species
Malodorous
Messy
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Cats
Problem for Children
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Short-lived
Spines/Thorns
Weak Wood
Weedy