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Mystery Vine in Zone 4 (Clematis virginiana)

by Dotsy Gigliotti
(Steamboat Springs, CO, USA)

Vine With Red Extension Cord

Vine With Red Extension Cord

This vine has been growing in Steamboat Springs, CO, zone 3 or 4 for almost 10 years on a trellis beside the house. The roots are kept warm by the driveway asphalt.

It was started by a scruffy looking little pot of sticks as a remnant of a nursery's stock in November about ten years ago. It has alot of woody stems but puts out thick foliage every spring.

It faces west, uses moderate water and is deciduous. It has a soft, flexble light green leaf that seems happy in part sun. The stems are twig like and are very woody.

Thank you so much for helping me identify this mystery vine.

Comments for
Mystery Vine in Zone 4 (Clematis virginiana)

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mystery vine
by: Carla

Could it be wood vine? People use to plant it everywhere until they found out it can take over trees and shrubs.
Looks like...
by: Nori

a native eastern species of clematis, Clematis Virginiana, called Virgin's Bower, or one of its other native cousins that occur across the continent. (Or a hybrid thereof, as you say it was nursery stock.) The one I know has white flowers, I think in midsummer. Unfortunately, I had convinced myself it was poison ivy, and finally went out in very early March, before anything was growing, and cut it all down! I found out later that it wasn't poison ivy. It hasn't quite come back yet, although it's made a start this summer, thank goodness. It was gorgeous in bloom.
Need more info
by: Anonymous

Is there any texture to the leaf, smooth or rough? Any flowers? Do you have a close up of a leaf to post?

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