If you’re looking for a native flowering vine which thrives in a variety of light conditions, Virgin’s Bower clematis (Clematis virginiana) may be the answer. Although the Virgin’s Bower vine doesn’t produce the large, showy flowers of other clematis varieties, like Nelly Moser or Jackmanii, it’s one of the few vines which blooms proficiently in the shade.
I. Appearance and Characteristics
Clematis virginiana (also known as devil’s darning needles, devil’s hair, love vine, traveller’s joy, virgin’s bower, Virginia virgin’s bower, wild hops, and woodbine; syn. Clematis virginiana L. var. missouriensis (Rydb.) Palmer & Steyermark ) is a vine of the Ranunculaceae (buttercup family) native to North America from Newfoundland to southern Manitoba down to the Gulf of Mexico.
The rationale for some of the common names is unclear, as they include examples normally applied to unrelated plants, including twining parasites (e.g. “devil’s hair” for Cuscuta). The name “Love Vine” also is applied to alleged aphrodisiacs, such as Caribbean species of Cassytha, which are unrelated to Clematis, not being in the family Ranunculaceae.
This plant is an aggressively growing vine which can climb to heights of 3–6 m (10–20 ft) by twisting leafstalks. The leaves are opposite and pinnately compound, trifoliate (3 leaflets) that have coarse unequal teeth on the margins. It produces small dull white flowers of width 13 to 19 mm (1⁄2 to 3⁄4 in) from July to September that are faintly sweetly fragrant; sometimes dioecious so that there are separate staminate (male) and pistillate (female) plants. The male plants are a little showier in flower and don’t bear seed. The dry fruit is an achene with long hair as silvery gray feathery plumes attached in late August into November.
It grows on the edges of the woods, moist slopes, fence rows, in thickets and on streambanks. It grows in full sun to light full shade and is very adaptable to many soils from sandy to clay, dry to draining wet, and acid to alkaline with a pH range of 6.0 to 8.5. It has a deep but sparse, fibrous root system that makes it hard to transplant.(2.) Good for USDA hardiness zones of 3 to 8. Virgin’s bower is not commonly planted in gardens and landscapes in most places. It is sold by a good number of native plant nurseries and some specialty and large conventional nurseries.
What is usually sold at most every conventional nursery or garden center is the similar sweet autumn clematis, Clematis terniflora, favored due its heavier leaf coverage, pleasant aroma, and ability to flourish more in shade. Due to its propensity for self-sprouting, the rampant growing sweet autumn clematis quickly can become invasive when introduced to the native habitat of Clematis virginiana.
It is a larval host of the clematis clearwing moth (Alcathoe caudata).
II. How to Grow and Care
Sunlight
Some varieties of devil’s darning needles prefer full sun, while others prefer partial shade. Although some varieties of devil’s darning needles will bloom better in a fully shaded area (for example Clematis ‘Nelly Moser’ and Clematis ‘Henryi’), they generally need at least 6 hours of sunlight per day.
Temperature
Devil’s darning needles has good cold resistance. Suitable growth temperatures are 21 to 25 ℃ during the daytime and 15 to 17 ℃ at night. It doesn’t thrive well in waterlogged soil or in drought conditions. Therefore, it is better if the soil is moist and well ventilated. Water regularly but avoid the accumulation of water.
Watering
Devil’s darning needles likes a moist environment without accumulated water. It is recommended that you place your finger into the soil to feel how moist it is. Water thoroughly if the soil is dry. If your devil’s darning needles is in a pot, water slowly and stop watering when excess water flows out of the drain hole at the bottom of the pot. Remember to pour out any excess water from the flower pot’s saucer, or put a few pebbles in the saucer to ensure good drainage.
Devil’s darning needles grows rapidly during the spring, when it requires a large amount of water. Watering should be done according to the dryness of the area and the weather conditions. In rainy areas or during rainy weather, pay attention to promptly drain any accumulated water to prevent the roots of devil’s darning needles rotting.
Soil
Devil’s darning needles likes fertile, well-drained, neutral soils with a pH in the range of 6 to 7.5. Devil’s darning needles is not resistant to accumulated water or drought and can lose water easily. Generally, peat soil, pearl soil, vermiculite, and pine bark can be mixed and used as a suitable soil for planting. The mixed soil should be loose, aerated, permeable, moist, and nutritious.
If grown in a pot, organic fertilizer or slow-release fertilizer can be used as a base fertilizer. If devil’s darning needles are planted in the garden, it is advised to use organic fertilizer and bone meal as a base fertilizer, with garden soil, humus soil, and coarse-grained medium used to increase the drainage and ventilation capacity of the soil.
Fertilizing
The amount of fertilizer provided should be determined by the size of a devil’s darning needles. During the growth period and after flowering, nitrogen fertilizer should be provided. Between the time flower buds appear to when they bloom, phosphate fertilizer should be provided. Potassium fertilizer is indispensable and should be provided at all times. It is recommended that only a small amount of fertilizer, at a low concentration, be applied. You can fertilize it several times with fertilizer diluted with water.
During dormancy, the leaves of devil’s darning needles will wither. At this time, some organic fertilizer (bone meal or manure) can be added and dug into the soil at a shallow depth. It is also a good idea to cover the surface of the soil with compost to increase the nutrient level and prevent frost from freezing the roots.
Planting Instructions
Go to the store and buy seeds for your favorite flower color and flowering period. It is generally recommended to plant the seeds in nursery pots in the spring or fall. Once the seedlings have grown, they can be transplanted into flower pots or the garden. If devil’s darning needles is grown in a pot, it is best to use a ceramic flower pot (this helps keep the plant cool in the summer and warm in the winter). If devil’s darning needles is planted in the garden, choose the planting site carefully because it does not like to be transplanted multiple times.
Select a well-drained planting area and cultivated soil. Determine the depth of the planting hole based on the size of the seedling’s root system. Once the hole has been dug, it is recommended that some gravel be placed at the bottom of the pit to ensure good drainage. The drainage layer should be backfilled with mixed soil 5 cm thick.
Disperse the plant’s roots into a radial pattern and place it in the hole. Hold the upper part of the plant in your hand to control the planting depth. Add soil to a depth of 2/3 of the hole, then slowly lift the root into place to ensure it is fully in contact with the soil. The soil should then be compacted and the plant watered.
Additionally, since devil’s darning needles is a climbing plant, it is recommended that some climbing support is provided and that enough space is available for it to look attractive and ornamental. Devil’s darning needles can only attach itself to relatively thin supports, so the climbing support should not be too thick – thin string or wire is advised.
Pruning
Devil’s darning needles can be pruned before it flowers or between late winter and early spring. Before flowering, remove any withered or weak branches to avoid excessive nutrient consumption. For better nutrient concentration and more attractive flowers, it is also advised to selectively prune some branches, even if they are growing well. Try to avoid too much pruning in summer, because in hot weather having more leaves can promote evapotranspiration and maintain normal water circulation in devil’s darning needles.
In the late winter and early spring, heavy pruning of devil’s darning needles, especially for late-blooming varieties, can stimulate the growth of new branches, make devil’s darning needles grow better, and result in a better shape the following year. For example, prune it to one-third of its original height. For early-blooming varieties, it is not recommended to prune too much.
It is recommended that half of the branches are pruned, leaving only thick ones behind. After being pruned like this, devil’s darning needles will have a longer blooming season, and the number of flowers will increase year by year with the increasing number of branches. The above method can be applied to all varieties of devil’s darning needles, including those you are unsure about how to prune.
After pruning, devil’s darning needles tend to end its dormancy period and start growing. If the weather is not suitable for the growth of new branches, it is recommended to wait before pruning.
Transplanting
The best time to transplant devil’s darning needles is during the cool, damp conditions of late summer to early fall (S2-S4). Transplanting in this period provides the plant adequate time to establish strong roots before winter sets in. Ensure your chosen location has well-drained soil and partial to full sun exposure for best growth. As a tip, water frequently right after transplanting to minimize shock.
Pests and Diseases
The Virgin’s Bower is mostly a trouble-free plant once it is established.
However, it might experience periodic damage from typical pests, including:
- Snails and slugs
- Spider mites
- Whiteflies
- Earwigs
- Aphids
The deer usually leave this plant alone, but rabbits tend to enjoy nibbling on the newly sprouted shoots.
This plant is susceptible to native clematis wilt and powdery mildew.
The plant is more likely to get infected by the mildew when placed in an area with poor circulation.
Therefore, make sure to provide this plant with good air circulation.
Clematis wilt is a serious fungal disease problem. If you notice your Clematis vines shrivel or droop it is probably Clematis wilt.
It might result in the sudden collapse of an entire vine or a particular portion of it.
It is a severe problem as the leaves and stems of the plant start turning black and dies soon after the collapse.
To prevent it, you must cut off all the affected stems and destroy each diseased part of the plant.
If the whole plant dies, do not try growing another clematis on that location.
III. Uses and Benefits
Devil’s darning needles is most commonly used in gardens in ways that maximize its trailing properties. It can be trained across walls or trellises, or allowed to grow on a tree or shrub. However, it can overwhelm other plants, so gardeners must be vigilant. In a woodland style garden, it can be allowed to grow over the ground to beautiful and fragrant effect. In a more traditional garden, try adding some vegetables and herbs around it, like Lettuce, Chives, or Basil.
IV. Harvesting and Storage
Devil’s darning needles has very beautiful flowers, which can be cut to use as part of a bouquet, or to decorate dining tables or rooms. Choose flowers at different stages of openness according to your flower arrangement requirements. It is recommended to choose half-open or nearly open flowers, which look lovely and have a long vase life. On the day of harvesting, use a sharp knife to obliquely cut the end of the stem and then promptly insert it into clean water in a vase. To extend its vase life, keep it out of direct sunlight, as this will make the flower wither faster.
If you want to harvest seeds of devil’s darning needles for reproduction, ensure that the seeds are already mature. Generally, seeds mature from late summer to midwinter, and it is recommended they are collected before the fruit becomes dark brown. If seeds are over-mature, they will enter dormancy, which will lead to late germination once they are planted.
Find Where to Buy the Best Virgin’s Bower (Clematis virginiana)
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