CLEMATIS vitalba Traveller's Joy, Old Man's Beard, White Vine, Virgin's Bower Type: Perennial Height: 100' (25 m) Flowering Time: Spring Flower Colour: White Classification: Class: Angiospermae (Angiosperms) Subclass: Dicotyledonae (Dicotyledons) Superorder: Magnoliidae (Magnolia Superorder) Order: Ranunculares (Buttercup Order) Family: Ranunculaceae (Buttercup Family) Genus: Clematis (Clematis) Species: vitalba

Clematis vitalba is a common sight in the south of England, particularly on chalky soils, both in spring when it produces its clusters of small white flowers and in autumn when these turn to fluffy grey seedheads. It is a climber, draping itself over bushes and trees, so although it may grow to some length, it is not obviously a tall plant, being reliant on its support plant for the height it attains. It has tough pinnate leaves with stalks which twist around other plants, and in older plants the stems twist and twine to provide quite strong ropes which can support the weight of a child.

Clematis vitalba has been used in traditional medicine to treat kidney problems and in homeopathy for rheumatism and skin complaints.

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Harvesting and Growing from Seed:

				Germination: Winter Outside (128 days)
Seed Pod There is no seed pod. The seeds are clustered together in a fluffy ball. Seed The seeds are small woody diamonds with a fluffy tail. There are several seeds in a seedhead, but not all seeds are mature. Seedling The seedleaves are rounded. The first true leaves are palmate.