Swamp leather-flower
Clematis crispa
Ranunculaceae


Landscape Uses:

Vine on a trellis.

Ecological Restoration Notes:

Availability:
Commonly available at native plant nurseries in central Florida.
Description:
Climbing or trailing vine with solitary nodding flowers. Dies to the ground in winter.
Height:
Vine with stems climbing to 6 feet or more.
Growth Rate:
Fast.
Range:
Southeastern United States south to Brevard, Osceola, Polk, DeSoto, and Manatee counties.
Habitats:
Floodplain forests and wet hammocks
Soils:
Moist to occasionally wet, well-drained to moderately well-drained, sandy, limestone, or organic soils, with or without humusy top layer.
Nutritional Requirements:
Moderate to high; grows best with some organic content and may languish in nutrient poor soils.
Salt Water Tolerance:
Low; does not tolerate long-term flooding by salt or brackish water.
Salt Wind Tolerance:
Low; salt wind may burn the leaves.
Drought Tolerance:
Moderate; generally requires moist soils, but tolerant of short periods of drought once established.
Light Requirements:
Full sun to light shade.
Flower Color:
Rose to violet
Flower Characteristics:
Showy.
Flowering Season:
March-October.
Fruit:
Showy cluster, each fruit with a two-inch feathery plume for wind dispersal.
Wildlife and Ecology:
Horticultural Notes:
Comments:
We have been adding data for this species for central and northern Florida and welcome any feedback or review. If you would like to contribute information or images, please contact George Gann via the IRC staff page. See also the Florida Wildflower Foundation's Flower Friday page.


Shirley Denton
Shirley Denton
Robert Gundy