Asian Virginsbower (Clematis Florida) Profile: Plant Facts & Care Guide

Asian virginsbower, scientific name Clematis florida, is a deciduous or evergreen vine, flowers from early spring to late autumn (with a few winter flowering varieties), fruit in summer, can be cultivated for ornamental garden.

Asian Virginsbower Picture

Asian Virginsbower Info

Botanical Name	Clematis florida
Common Names	Asian virginsbower
Plant Type	Blooming plant
Mature Size	Climbs to 20 feet (6 meters) high
Water Req	Moist soil
Bloom time	Late summer or early fall
Sun	Full sun to shade
Flower color	Pure white

Characteristics of Asian Virginsbower

Leaf of Asian Virginsbower

Asian virginsbower is a grassy vine, about 1 to 2 meters long. Stems are brown or purplish red, with six longitudinal lines, nodes swollen, sparsely pubescent.2 to 3 compound leaves, even petiole up to 12 cm; Leaf blade is narrowly ovate to lanceolate, 2 -- 6 cm long, 1 -- 2 cm wide, apically obtuse, base rounded or broadly cuneate, margin entire, very rarely divided, neither covered with hair, veins inconspicuous; Petiole is clearly visible, short or 1 cm long;Petiole 4 cm long.

Flower of Asian Virginsbower

Flowers are solitary in leaf axils of Asian virginsbower; Pedicels are ca. 6 -- 11 cm, nearly glabrous, with a pair of leaflike bracts in the lower middle part; Bracts are broadly ovoid or ovoid triangular, 2 -- 3 cm long, base sessile or shortly stipitate, yellow pilose; Flowers are spreading, ca. 5 cm in diam. Asian virginsbower has 6 sepals, white, obovate or spatulate, 3 cm long and 1.5 cm wide, apex more acute, base tapered, inner surface glabrous, outside forming a linear-lanceolate band along three straight mid veins, densely tomentose, margin glabrous; Stamens are purplish red, filaments broadly linear, glabrous, anthers lateral, oblong, rounded, shorter than filaments; Ovary is narrowly ovate, pale yellow pilose, style short, distally glabrous, stigma swollen into a head, micro2-lobed. (Find more Climbing Plants with Flowers here.)

Fruit of Asian Virginsbower

Achenes are obovate, flattened, margin thickened, persistent styles elongated into beaks, thin, with spreading pubescent below, glabrous above, and expanded stigma 2-lobed.

The flowering period of asian virginsbower is from January to February, and the fruiting period is from March to April

Asian Virginsbower Habits

Asian virginsbower grows on the hilly thickets of the low mountains. It prefers fertile, well-drained alkaline loam, avoids water or summer drought and can not hold water soil. Asian virginsbower has strong cold resistance, and can withstand -20 low temperature. There are red spider or leaf-eating pests and need to strengthen ventilation.

Asian Virginsbower Distribution

Asian virginsbower (Clematis florida) is distributed in Guangxi, Guangdong, Hunan, Jiangxi. Born in low mountain hills in thickets, valleys, roadside and streams. It is cultivated in Japan.

How to Grow & Care for Asian Virginsbower

The stems of Asian virginsbower should be cut to a height of 30cm before planting to facilitate their branching and avoid stem breakage during planting. The stem base of Asian virginsbower should be 3~5cm below the soil surface. The plants should be placed at a suitable depth, covered with soil, compressed, and watered. Asian virginsbower roots like a cool environment. Covering 3~5cm thick mulch (such as bark, moss, etc.) on the planting substrate can provide a good and cool root environment, which is conducive to the growth of plant roots. Planting time is arranged in spring or autumn.

Read More:
How to Grow & Care for Asian Virginsbower
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How to Propagate Asian Virginsbower 

Asian Virginsbower can be propagated by sowing, layering, grafting, splitting or cutting propagation.

Sowing

The Asian Virginsbower can be propagated by sowing. Cotyledon unearthed type seeds (achenes smaller, thin pericarp), if sown in spring, about 3 to 4 weeks can bud. Sow in the autumn and germinate when the spring is warm. Seeds of cotyledon type (larger with thicker seed coat) can only germinate after a low temperature vernalization stage, and the first pair of true leaves are born. Some species of Asian Virginsbower (Clematis florida) need to go through two low temperature stages before they can germinate, such as the trochanteric lotus. If the seeds were refrigerated at 0~3℃ for 40 days, it would take about 9~10 months to germinate.It can also be treated with a certain concentration of gibberellin.

Layering

In spring, the last year's mature branches of Asian Virginsbower are pressed. Roots usually take root within a year. 

Division

Asian Virginsbower can be divided into plants.

Cuttings

The main propagation method of hybrid Asian Virginsbower cultivars is cutting. Semi-mature branches were taken in summer and internodes (i.e., the middle of the upper and lower sections) were internodes with 2 buds. The medium is half peat and half sand. Cuttage depth for the section on the bud just exposed above. The bottom temperature 15 ~ 18 ℃. After taking root, put it in a 3 inch pot and overwinter in an antifreeze hotbed or greenhouse. In spring, change 4 to 5 inch pots and move them out of the room. Summer to shade against showers, planting at the end of autumn.

Read More: How to Propagate Asian Virginsbower (5 Ways)

Asian Virginsbower Uses

Asian Virginsbower (Clematis florida) can be used as exhibition cut flowers, can be used to climb evergreen or deciduous tree shrubs, can be used as ground cover; Roots and whole grass are used as a medicine, blood circulation and pain relief. It is used for urination, abdominal distension and stool closure. Asian virginsbower has external use for joint swelling and pain, insect and snake bite.

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