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Hairy clematis

Clematis hirsutissima

Also called Sugar Bowls

Hairy clematis
Photo: JW Stockert, Public domain

Hairy clematis is a small, upright perennial herb from the western United States that usually does not climb like other clematis. It is grown for its urn-shaped purple-blue flowers and suits xeriscapes and rock gardens.

Family
Ranunculaceae (Buttercup family)
Grows as
Perennial
Light
Full sun, Part shade
Water
Water sparingly once established; it tolerates dry conditions well.
Soil
Well-drained, gritty or rocky soil.
Temperature
Hardy in cold winters; native to temperate climates, so protect young plants from extreme heat and waterlogging.
How easy
Moderate
Safety
Toxic: Clematis species contain protoanemonin and related compounds that irritate the skin, mouth and gut if eaten or handled in quantity.. Toxic to cats and dogs (ASPCA).
Native range
WC. U.S.A.
Climate
temperate

About

Clematis hirsutissima is a species of flowering plant in the buttercup family known by the common name hairy clematis or vase flower. It is a perennial herb that is native to much of the western United States, from Washington to Nebraska. It is a small, erect plant which, unlike other Clematis, does not generally produce vines. It is quite variable in appearance, especially across varieties. In general the hairy stem reaches up to about half a meter tall and has many large hairy leaves divided into lance-shaped lobes. The inflorescence appears at the tip of the stem and bears a solitary flower. The flower is made up of an urn-shaped cup of deep purple-blue petal like sepals, which are fuzzy and have pointed or rounded tips. Rare individuals have white or pinkish sepals. There are no true petals.

How to grow it

Clematis hirsutissima var. scottii is valued for xeriscaping and in rock gardening particularly in its native range. The compact mound of foliage and many blossoms of well developed plants are regarded as handsome by many including noted wildflower writer Claude A. Barr. It can be successfully divided for vegetative reproduction.

Other Clematis plants

Rush Stem Clematis · Clematis akebioides · Alpine clematis · Goat's Beard · Evergreen Clematis · Clematis aromatica · Pine hyacinth · Bigelow's leather flower · Traveler's-joy · Satincurls · Gold Wool Clematis · Early Virgin's Bower

Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Clematis hirsutissima by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.

The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.

Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.

Pet safety from the ASPCA toxic and non-toxic plant lists.

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