sweetautumn clematis Ranunculaceae Clematis terniflora DC. symbol: CLTE4 Leaf: Opposite, evergreen to deciduous farther north, pinnately compound with five leaflets or trifoliate, individual leaflets more or less cordate with entire margins, 2 to 4 inches long; shiny green above and paler below; both the long petiolules and the rachis commonly wrap around other structures to aid in climbing. Flower: Species is monoecious; fragrant and showy, described as refreshing, white with 4 sepals, 1 inch across, borne on branching panicles, present late summer and early fall. Fruit: Small dry brown seeds with a long white feathery plume, borne in thin dandelion-like heads, maturing in the fall, can be nearly as showy as the flowers. Twig: Initially green, and changing to brown, numerous ridges, wiry, climbs by twining. Bark: Initially smooth and light brown, later developing long splits and shreddy long strips. Form: A climbing vine that can completely overtake its supporting stucture in a dense tangle, to 30 feet and a main stem diameter of 4 inches. Additional Range Information: Clematis terniflora is planted in the USDA hardiness zones shown above and may seed into the landscape. See states reporting sweetautumn clematis. More: Fall Color External Links: USDA Plants Database © Copyright 2016, Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation, all rights reserved. Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson