Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Wildflower Wednesday: Clematis drummondii

When an unknown native plant shows up in my garden I'll usually leave it in place for a season to see if it blooms.  Sometimes it turns out to be a weed but occasionally the approach works out far better than I could have guessed.  I'm joining Gail at Clay and Limestone for Wildflower Wednesday to feature one of those potential weeds that turned out to be a very special native plant.  Clematis drummondii is commonly known as Old Man's Beard, Texas Virgin's Bower, or Goats Beard.  It's easy to see why "beard" is part of the common name.


In reworking the circle garden last spring we decided to leave a rather nondescript vine in place just to see what it was.  The decision was based more on my love of native plants than its appearance.  In fact, the only non-blooming photo I have of it is this one near a late-blooming Texas Bluebonnet during June.  The Clematis drummondii vine is in the foreground spilling onto the walkway.



Then recently these delicate, starry white blooms appeared....



....and I was off to the computer for identification.  Clematis drummondii is something I wouldn't have guessed.


The small blooms quickly burst out into glistening beards and it has been blooming most of August with new flowers appearing alongside older ones.  Clematis drummondii has separate male and female plants, these showy plumes cover the female plant.



Now that I see it in bloom I remember it used to grow on an undeveloped lot at the end of my street until the neighboring business decided to have their lawn service mow down the "weeds".  Perhaps it migrated from there since this spot is downstream during heavy rains.



I'm glad it found a new home in my garden.  The beards are 3" long and quite a surprise coming from the small flowers.



As the plumes age the seeds blow out a bit so if this fluffy look doesn't work in your garden Clematis drummondii might not be a good choice.



According to the Native Plant Database, Clematis drummondii is native to Central Texas and often found on rocky, limestone slopes in the Edwards Plateau region.  This cold and heat-tolerant perennial vine grows easily from seed and can be transplanted in the winter.  Good to know because it's a vining plant I'd like to move over to the fence where those vines, which grow up to 25' long, can climb to their heart's content instead of flopping over the pathway.



The information lists it as minimally deer resistant but so far not one nibble though many surrounding plants have been nibbled or even devoured.  It is listed as tolerant of both drought and moist soils.  The information also states that once established it is almost impossible to get rid of it.  Why would I want to?



Clematis drummondii is a keeper I'm so glad I gave it a chance.  Gail has a beautiful post on Black-eyed Susans for you this month.

21 comments:

  1. Shirley what a find...a native clematis. I have a similar looking one but not native. Love the flowers and seed heads...I can see why it definitely is a keeper.

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    1. I just love finding special plants as they pop up.

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  2. I love it when a flower/plant looks delicate, but survives and thrives in Texas. So glad that the clematis found a home in your garden, Shirley.

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    1. I always enjoy your posts on native plants too Tina.

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  3. How wonderful to find a self-seeded Clematis! It isn't a species I'm familiar with, although the flower (if not the beard) appears similar to my C. terniflora, the only Clematis I've managed to keep going in my garden.

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    1. We have another native clematis that I would love to find in my garden, it's on my list for the next trip to a native plant nursery.

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  4. Oh I love it--everything about it! I'll have to watch for it next time I visit Texas. Great plant!

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    1. Will you be visiting Texas soon? It's easy to spot in the fall.

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  5. None of my Clematises have managed to grow a seedling, it must be a tough plant. The beards are cute!

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    1. It has to be tough to survive our weather. Maybe the clematis ricki and Peter the outlaw have had to battle will turn up at your place. I know you have the garden for a rampant native!

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  6. That's a lovely looking, dainty native Clematis Shirley, a nice find in your garden. Even when it has finished blooming what's left is still very attractive.

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  7. It is a keeper, indeed! Lucky you! I think it will look lovely climbing a support!

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  8. There's a fine line between sturdy and invasive. The native clematis that got a foothold here turned into a plant-devouring succubus. Yours is very pretty, so I hope it is the good sister. I'd be a little worried by that phrase: "impossible to get rid of".

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    1. That sounds rather ominous ricki! I did check and yours is slightly different but close enough that I need to consider this warning.....

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  9. Shirley, I'm so glad you posted this! I've seen the vine all over lately and wondered what it was. It's hard to miss when it's in the beard stage! I love to find little surprises like that too!

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    1. All those fluffy seeds are a nice treat in the fall and it does seem to be deer-proof.

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  10. Sweet little blooms, beards, nice tiny foliage, and poofs later on; who could ask for anything more? What a great plant! I had the same experience as Ricki with our wild clematis. I still battle with it!

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    1. Uh, oh...between you and ricki I'm now considering moving it to the edge of the woods where it can ramble freely. Our rocky clay and dry climate make it a challenge for any plant to take over but best to err on the safe side.

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  11. I've often noticed the massive 'beards' on the Clematis drummondii growing wild on fences and have thought that under similar lean growing conditions it would be pretty in a garden.

    My little native 'purple leather flower' Clematis pitcheri, has lots of seeds right now. I would be glad to send some to you.

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  12. Very nice! I'm glad you took the time to identify it. I like the fluffy seedheads personally. They add touchable texture.

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    1. It is a nice texture, especially as it ranges over the late summer dryness of a field.

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