Clematis occidentalis (Purple Clematis)
| Also known as: | Purple Virgin's Bower |
|---|---|
| Genus: | Clematis |
| Family: | Ranunculaceae (Buttercup) |
| Life cycle: | perennial woody |
| Origin: | native |
| Habitat: | part shade, sun; dry to average moisture; rocky woods, woodland edges, thickets |
| Bloom season: | May - June |
| Plant height: | 3 to 12 feet |
| Wetland Indicator Status: | none |
| MN county distribution (click map to enlarge): |  |
| National distribution (click map to enlarge): |  |
Pick an image for a larger view. See the glossary for icon descriptions.
Detailed Information
Flower: 
![[photo of flower]](/udata/r9ndp23q/pd/clematis-occidentalis-15-16.jpg)
Flowers are single in leaf axils, 1½ to 2½ inches long with 4 petal-like sepals that are blue-violet to pinkish-purple, oblong-elliptic, hairy, and drooping to somewhat spreading. Flower stalks are 2 to 4 inches long and sparsely hairy.
![[photo of inner flower column]](/udata/r9ndp23q/pd/clematis-occidentalis-15-17.jpg)
In the center is a column of numerous stamens surrounding a bundle of styles. Around the outside of the column are usually sterile stamens (staminodia) that are flat and rather spatula-shaped, white with prominent veins that are often tinged pink.
Leaves and stems:
![[photo of leaves]](/udata/r9ndp23q/pd/clematis-occidentalis-15-8-13.jpg)
Leaves are compound with 3 leaflets. Leaflets are 1½ to 3½ inches long and up to 2 inches wide, toothless or with a few shallow teeth, sharply pointed tips, and hairy stalk. Leaflets are egg or teardrop to heart-shaped but sometimes irregularly lobed in 2 or 3 parts. Both leaf surfaces are hairless, or sparsely hairy and may become hairless.
![[leaf stalk acts like a tendril]](/udata/r9ndp23q/pd/clematis-occidentalis-15-8-10.jpg)
Stems lack tendrils; the leaf stalks twine around surrounding vegetation and structures for support. Stems are round to squarish, mostly hairless, often purplish, the lower stem becoming woody.
Fruit:
![[photo of developing fruit]](/udata/r9ndp23q/pd/clematis-occidentalis_7698709.jpg)
The flowers become heads of finely hairy seed, the remains of the style persisting and elongating, becoming a “tail” about 2 inches long. The seeds ripen from green to rusty brown and the tails become gray and very feathery (see also more photos below), the wind eventually carrying the seed away.
Notes:
Purple Clematis is easily identified by its large, purplish flowers with 4 droopy petal-like sepals. Finding it is not so simple, however. It tends to be a shy, wispy thing and is never found in large numbers, as if it didn't want to be noticed. The flower color tends to blend into the green of surrounding leaves and you may not even see it unless you walk into it. It is not as robust or prolific as its cousin Virgin's Bower (Clematis virginiana), which has coarsely toothed, 3-lobed leaves and clusters of white flowers. There are 3 recognized varieties of Clematis occidentalis, vars. dissecta and grossesserata are more western, var. occidentalis more eastern with Minnesota on the western edge of its range.
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More photos
Purple Clematis plant
Purple Clematis plant
Purple Clematis plants
Purple Clematis plant
look towards the sky
fruiting Purple Clematis
mature fruit
leaflets may be lobed
a pollinator?
Purple Clematis plant
Purple Clematis plant
Purple Clematis plants
Purple Clematis plant
look towards the sky
fruiting Purple Clematis
mature fruit
leaflets may be lobed
a pollinator?Photos by K. Chayka taken in Aitkin and Itasca counties. Photos courtesy Peter M. Dziuk taken in Atikin, Cass and Itasca counties. Photos courtesy Bill Steele taken in Aiktin County.
Comments
Have you seen this plant in Minnesota, or have any other comments about it?
on: 2015-06-05 21:30:30
My niece and I were hiking some trails and found this one growing in one small area. The vine was in bloom and was very pretty climbing along the trees and hill. We only found it one spot and after several miles never saw it again.
on: 2016-05-27 15:49:46
My sister, Janet and I were walking in the woods in Northern Carlton County looking for wild flowers. We came upon this vine with beautiful purple blossoms. Neither of us had ever seen this flower before. It was the find of the day!
on: 2016-05-30 23:31:05
Found this on the south side of Gooseberry River near a trail that runs from the falls to Lake Superior. It was closer to the lake than the falls - but before Agate beach. Showed a picture of it to a ranger - who had no idea what it was. Quite happy to have someone direct me to your website!
on: 2016-06-09 11:40:09
Saw this flower on a trail in the Chippewa National Forest, near Inger. Never saw it before and had to find out what it was and I found this site. It's so informative and the pics are really beautiful.
on: 2016-06-11 11:59:01
A single plant with flowers growing from from a bouldery bank on June 2, 2016. Partial shade. Moist but drained soil. Trees nearby are balsam fir, mountain maple, birch, aspen, and spruce. I photographed the flowers and leaves but did not collect a voucher specimen as the population was too small.
on: 2016-12-21 23:03:17
I have noticed this plant/flower the last two summers on the side of the road where I live. I never knew what it was until I recently saw it on a greeting card with the name of the flower, so I checked my wildflowers guide for verification. It is not easily seen, but is a beautiful vine flower! I found it on both sides of the road in rather close proximity to one another on sites where hardwood trees grow.
on: 2016-12-21 23:06:48
Correction: I could not find the flower in my reference book, but looked it up on this site and confirmed it was a Purple Clematis.
on: 2017-05-22 12:48:34
On my backyard.
on: 2017-05-23 10:38:52
Found in 10 locations along a 75 yd. stretch of power line right-of-way.
on: 2017-05-29 13:58:59
One of a couple of well developed vines just starting to bloom
on: 2017-05-31 15:22:50
Found a 3 foot vine with one purple blossom on a rocky hill.
on: 2017-06-17 16:27:20
Appeared to be a single vine, maybe 4-5 ft, with a dozen or more blooms, against an old birch trunk -- found 12 June 2017
on: 2018-04-17 17:57:22
I have seen this vine and I am sure this is the wild clematis, but it hasn't bloomed and I wonder if there is something I could do to make it flower. it is growing in a shrubby place and unfortunately it is also where there are wild blackberries in the area and I was trying to get some wild columbine growing and people trampled them for the blackberries. There is also a giant Solomon seal along the walk and I was checking it each day last Spring and suddenly it was eaten by the deer. If it comes back I may try to fence it this spring.
on: 2018-05-20 09:00:26
Found this blooming yesterday 19 May 2018. I can't remember ever seeing this species before. There were about five plants in the area. What a nice surprise.
on: 2019-06-02 04:25:16
Friends visiting our lakeshore property near Bear Head State Park sent us photos of them blooming (5-30-19).
on: 2019-06-02 17:19:12
We have been vacationing in this area for 30 years, This is the first time we have ever seen this wild flower. Multiple plants on the east face of a gravel road.
on: 2019-06-09 15:59:55
A number of beautiful vines woven on the trees.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/Pp6rZfJ5bt937bev5
https://photos.app.goo.gl/ikhzrURsRRAa8xAYA
https://photos.app.goo.gl/aUGkiFa7gBd7WCDVA
on: 2020-05-29 11:58:29
Found in several locations in Kakabeka Falls Provincial Park, near Thunder Bsy, Ontario. Blooming May 29, 2020. Apparently fairly rare.
on: 2020-05-30 12:10:38
have found these in various locations on my property north of Grand Rapids, sometimes isolated and sometimes scattered over a small area. They are often found in rather shaded areas apparently climbing the brush and small trees to get more exposure to the sunlight.Only blossom for a very short time, more common to see the remains of the flower heads in the fall after the leaves have fallen.
on: 2020-06-01 17:51:42
Stumbled upon this delightful flowering vine while looking for morels. Took photos and looked it up when we returned home. Heading out on another explore the following day we found several more in another area altogether. What a fun find and a beautiful plant. Always surprises to discover when we venture outdoors.
on: 2022-05-29 15:40:26
There are several plants on my property on Prairie Lake both of Grand Rapids, MN
on: 2022-06-06 12:21:44
Saw it last year after it bloomed. Went out this year to find while it was blooming. Seemed like the vine was much shorter. Maybe hard winter caused some die back. But it did have blooms and seemed healthy
on: 2022-06-06 18:27:37
Found several plants scattered on bluffs above a creek while in the southwestern part of Duluth. I have also seen this plant in Jay Cooke State Park. Always a lovely surprise to find it in the woods.
on: 2022-06-18 18:33:18
I had no idea there was a native clematis like this in Minnesota. I came upon one on June 11 along the Caribou River at Caribou Falls State Wayside.
on: 2023-05-26 16:02:38
Near the lake by Josante Shores road Lake Vermilion