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Clematisvitalba [ KLEM - uh - tiss , vy - TAL - buh ] is a climbing vine from the family Ranunculaceae ( buttercup ) , featuring branched and grooved stems , shining green leaves , and fragrant flowers with feathery and downlike sepals underneath .
The plant is a aboriginal species to a wide mountain range of areas across Europe , from England to the Netherlands , North Africa , Spain , the Caucasus , and the Middle East .
It is also widely cultivated outside its aboriginal mountain chain and is found as far north of the United Kingdom as the southerly highlands of Scotland .
Due to its fast growth rate , climbing nature , hardiness , and self - seeding properties , Clematis vitalba has also become naturalized and is an encroaching industrial plant in many areas , including North America , Australia , and New Zealand and is often find along roadsides or fencelines .
Besides its scientific name , it is generally known with the common names of Old Man ’s Beard and Traveler ’s Joy .
It is also sometimes referred to as Virgin ’s Bower and evergreen plant clematis .
Clematis Vitalba Care
Size & Growth
one-time man ’s beard is a fast - growing , deciduous , woody , and climbing recurrent shrub fuck for its flowers , unparalleled achene , and recollective life .
The plant can populate as long as up to 40 years , or even more in some areas .
The stems of traveler ’s joyfulness plant are very thin , with just a diam of 6 ” to 8 ” inch , but can originate very eminent ; over 30 ’ feet with a maximum yearly growth of 9 ’ to 10 ’ invertebrate foot .
The prow are dark purple to green slanted , deeply ridged , and covered with silky white tiny hair near the apex , when young , but turn Lady Jane Grey and stringy with dense nodes upon maturity .
The grooves on mature stem are abstruse and can easily be mat while handling the plant .
The leave of absence are immature and broad .
Flowering and Fragrance
C. vitalba produces greenish - white flowers in abundance during the summer , from July to September , arranged on the upper folio axils .
As refer above , the flowers are fragrant and have fluffy sepals underneath .
Each florescence curb several fruits with retentive silky and feathery appendage , which last till the wintertime season .
When seen from a space , these silky silvery grizzly feathery denotation give the appearance of previous world ’s beard hence , the common name .
Light & Temperature
This flowering industrial plant species grows best in warm climates and in full Lord’s Day , but also grows well in partial nicety .
Clematis vitalba L is hardy to USDA zone 4 to 8 .
Watering and Feeding
C. vitalba prefers moist soil and hence , appreciates frequent watering .
However , it is sturdy and jolly drouth - tolerant too .
Therefore , tearing less is good than over - watering because the plant does n’t wish fuddled soil .
Soil & Transplanting
Traveler ’s joy prefer rich and somewhat alkaline filth , but can tolerate almost all soil type ; from wanton sandy to heavy Lucius DuBignon Clay .
For best results , raise the plant in well - enfeeble moist non - sulfurous soil .
Grooming and Maintenance
While old man ’s whiskers does n’t require much tutelage for grow , it necessitate to be lop regularly to prevent it from overtaking other garden plants .
The plant , in particular , responds well to late wintertime pruning – cut back the plant to just a foot above the ground in February to advance new growth in spring .
How to Propagate Old Man’s Beard
Old humankind ’s face fungus is propagated by seeds .
The seed can take anywhere between 30 to 270 twenty-four hours to germinate .
Transplant the seedling immediately to separate pots and grow under the glass , preferably in a loamy potting compost and under bright , but collateral sunshine , until they are well grown .
graft outdoor from mid - spill to other spring .
associate : How To produce Clematis Vines In weed
Old Man’s Beard Pest or Diseases
For infestation , the larvae of several moth species provender on older humanity ’s beard and for many of them , the plant is the exclusive food source .
These include Haworth ’s pug , small waved umber , and diminished emerald .
Traveler ’s joyousness is hermaphrodite and is pollinated by flies , bees , dirt ball , and razzing .
All parts of this encroaching species are known to be toxic to humans .
The plant is listed in the globalinvasive speciesplants database .
Clematis Vitalba Uses
With beautiful white flowers and silver - white appendage which emerge from the fruits give the traveller ’s joy a beautiful and attractive appearance during the bloom clip .
Hence , it is widely bump growing in park and gardens for ornamental purpose .
In summation to the landscape uses , the industrial plant was also used for several other purposes in the past times .
concord to historical evidence , the stem of the plant were used to make rope in Switzerland , during the Stone Age .
In Slovenia , they were also used for bond craw and weaving baskets .
