Texas Wildflowers: Clematis crispa, swamp leatherflower

We first saw this flower on the side of a levee in the Beaumont Unit of the Big Thicket National Preserve. We later found another plant on another roadside in the northern section of the same unit. The initial flower we saw had more purple in it compared to this nearly all white flower above. It appears they can vary in color from pink, blue, purple and white.

Blooming throughout the spring to very early fall, Clematis crispa isn’t relegated only to Texas and occurs throughout the southeast. We found this plant among purple vetch and pinkroot, two plants that will be shown on another wildflower post later.

The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center has more information on growing this plant and even suggests that cuttings are one method of propagation. If I happen upon a seed pod I might snag a few to try out.

+Fine Gardening on this species.
+More clematis information
+More gardening information