Clematis, Virgin's Bower - Clematis virginiana

Clematis virginiana, also known as Virgin’s Bower, is a beautiful perennial wildflower native to Michigan and the UP.  It is a woody vine that can reach 20 feet in length.  If grown without support, it will form a large mound, climbing whatever vegetation is nearby. Even though it will climb shrubs, it is rarely overwhelming, preferring to dangle among the branches. This plant is stunning cascading over a fence or trellis.

It flowers from July to September with showy clusters of white blossoms that transition into unique poofs of stiff white seed fluff, making it a showstopper spring through fall! Virgins Bower prefers partial shade, but will do full sun with moisture. It likes medium to wet soil and will grow in clay, loam, or sand.  Virgin's bower can be used for trellises and fences, or as ground cover, and is well suited to stream banks, shorelines of inland lakes, and for concealing and naturalizing rip rap.
 
Virgins Bower is a pollinator magnet! Bumblebees and other pollinators swarm it, and it is the host plant for several moths. With it's white flowers displayed on the surface of the vines, it is likely in heavy use by nocturnal pollinators as well. Illinois Wildflowers says this mounding vine is valuable as cover and nesting habitat for birds, too. Having finally seen it in bloom, this plant is one of my new favorites!