Clematis pubescens
Also known as Western Clematis. Often wrongly called Old Man’s Beard – this is C. vitalba.
Family: RENUNCULACEAE (60 Genera)
Origin of Scientific Name:
Clematis - Greek clema = vine shoot
pubescens – Latin pubes = soft, downy hair; bot. pubescent, downy with soft fine hairs, referring to the seed.
Description
The genus Clematis is more widely know for the exotic, showy, highly bred species, but the more delicate, native C. pubescens is well worth cultivating too. This evergreen, woody, creeper is dioecious, which means it has separate male and female plants. It is evergreen, with dark green, elongated heart-shaped leaves and graceful white or cream star-shaped flowers.
Distribution
The south west of Western Australia, from just north of Perth on the west coast, to, about 350 kms east of Esperance on the south coast, in Cape Arid National Park. The most prolific concentration of populations is from Perth to Albany. Refer to the distribution map for this species via the Department of Environment and Conservation's FloraBase online herbarium.
Flowering Season
May to November
Cultivation/Propagation
Although being a very good plant for cultivation, Clematis pubescens is not widely grown. It can be germinated from seed in a cool room (best done during summer) or grown from cuttings.
View In Kings Park
West side of the water garden, next to the bottom pond. To help locate this site, you may wish to download the Western Australian Botanic Garden Guide brochure via our brochures page.