Water Wise Plants

KLEM-ah-tiss lin-GOOS-tik-uh-fo-lee-a

Virgin's Bower

Perennial

2 - 6 in (5 - 15cm) wide x 1 - 30 ft (0.3 - 9.1 m) tall

Low: water every three weeks until the root ball is wet

Full to half sun

White, Cream

Clematis ligusticifolia is a climbing, spreading vine with showy flowers. It is also known as Old-man's Beard and Yerba de Chiva, and Virgin's bower, (though the last name may also refer to C. lasiantha). It is native to North America where it is widespread across the western United States in streamside thickets, wooded hillsides, and coniferous forests up to 4,000 feet. Like the rest of the Clematis genus, it contains essential oils and compounds which irritate the skin and mucous membrames. Unlike Black Pepper or Capsicum, however, the compounds in clematis cause internal bleeding of the digestive tract if ingested in large amounts. Despite its toxicity, Native Americans used trace amounts of clematis to treat migraine headaches and nervous disorders. A whole-plant hot water extraction was used to treat eczema, and a leaf compress is used to treat chest pain, sores, and boils.