WESTERN VIRGIN'S BOWER

Clematis ligusticifolia

Buttercup Family (Ranunculaceae)

This large, handsome climber is a sister species to the well-known virgin's bower of the eastern United States. It is very widely distributed throughout the western half of the country. Western virgin's bower has deep-green compound leaves with long, pointed leaflets and an abundance of white, fragrant, starry blossoms in early to midsummer. These ripen into silky clusters of feathery fruits. Western virgin's bower is a strong climber and will clamber up into trees given the chance. It is easily trained over a trellis or arbor and is a rapid grower once established. It has a medium to high water requirement. As long as you mulch heavily with an organic mulch to help shade the roots and keep them cool and moist, this plant can thrive in full sun even in hot places. It can also do well in partial shade. Western virgin's bower is an easy-to-grow option for creating shade structures in hot, dry places where trees do not thrive.