Virginia Tech Dendrology

white clematis Ranunculaceae Clematis ligusticifolia Nutt. symbol: CLLI2
Leaf: Opposite, deciduous, pinnately compound with 5-7 leaflets; individual leaflets oval to cordate with entire margins, lobed or not, entire or toothed.
Flower: Species is usually dioecious; showy, white with 4-5 sepals but no petals, borne on branching panicles, present for much of the summer.
Fruit: Small dry brown seeds with a long white feathery plume, borne in thin dandelion-like heads, 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 50 feet.

Additional Range Information: Clematis ligusticifolia is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting. Download the full-size PDF map.
External Links: USDA Plants Database
All material 2025 Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation; Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson; Silvics reprinted from Ag Handbook 654; range map source information