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Native Plant Database

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Clematis pitcheri (Purple clematis)
Marcus, Joseph A.

Clematis pitcheri Torr. & Gray

Purple clematis, Purple leatherflower, Leatherflower, Bluebill

Ranunculaceae (Buttercup Family)

USDA Symbol: clpi

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

Bluebill or leather-flower is an herbaceous, perennial vine climbing to 10 ft. by means of twining petioles. Leaves are opposite, divided into 3–5 pairs of leaflets that are marked on the underside by a prominent, raised network of veins. Flowers are nodding, on long, slender stems from the leaf axil. They are dull-purple to brick-red on the outside; dark purple, red, or greenish white on the inside. The 4 sepals are petal-like, thick, and united at the base; they are recurved or only lightly spreading near the tip; petals are absent; stamens many; pistils many

The interesting flowers of Clematis pitcheri are long lasting. The plant is fairly heat and drought-tolerant. It dies to the ground in fall.

 

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Vine
Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Leaf Arrangement: Opposite
Leaf Complexity: Pinnate
Leaf Shape: Lanceolate , Ovate
Leaf Margin: Entire
Size Notes: 8-10 feet.
Leaf: Dark dull green and nearly glabrous adaxially, shiny light green. Terminal most leaflets often twisted and acting as tendrils.
Fruit:
Size Class: 6-12 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Purple
Bloom Time: May , Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep
Bloom Notes: Petals absent. Sepals petaloid.

Distribution

USA: AR , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , MO , NE , NM , OK , TN , TX
Native Distribution: S.w. IN to e. NE, s. to TX
Native Habitat: Woodlands edge, thickets, bluff ledges, slopes.
USDA Native Status: L48(N)

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Medium
Light Requirement: Sun , Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist
Soil Description: Moist, well-drained soils. Limestone-based, Sandy, Sandy Loam, Medium Loam, Clay Loam, Clay
Conditions Comments: Thick, succulent, urn-shaped petals (which are really sepals) give purple leatherflower its name. The seeds have fluffy tails radiating out like a starburst. Stems of purple leatherflower are brittle and should be supported or tied to a trellis. The interesting flowers of Clematis pitcheri are long lasting. The plant is fairly heat and drought-tolerant. It dies to the ground in fall.

Benefit

Use Ornamental: Showy, Attractive, Blooms ornamental, Twines on fences & other plants
Use Wildlife: Cover, Seeds-granivorous birds
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Interesting Foliage: yes

Propagation

Description: Plant seed outdoors in the fall or store and stratify before planting. Single, internodal, softwood cuttings taken in summer can be rooted. Clematis spp. are also propagated by late summer layerings.
Seed Collection: Gather seeds when they are no longer green but before the cluster of achenes completely dries and drops the seeds to the ground. Remain viable up to two years without refrigeration.
Seed Treatment: Moist stratify at 41 degrees for 60-90 days. Can take a long time to germinate.
Commercially Avail: yes

Mr. Smarty Plants says

Medicinal plants at the Wildflower Center
April 19, 2006
What kinds of medicinal plants do you have at the Wildflower Center?
view the full question and answer

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is either on display or available from the following:

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Austin, TX
Texas Discovery Gardens - Dallas, TX
Nueces River Authority - Uvalde, TX
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department - Austin, TX
NPSOT - Austin Chapter - Austin, TX

Wildflower Center Seed Bank

LBJWC-803 Collected 2010-12-16 in Hays County by Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Bibliography

Bibref 354 - Native & Naturalized Woody Plants of Austin & the Hill Country (1981) Lynch, D.
Bibref 841 - Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants (2006) Burrell, C. C.
Bibref 318 - Native Texas Plants: Landscaping Region by Region (2002) Wasowski, S. & A. Wasowski
Bibref 281 - Shinners & Mahler's Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas (1999) Diggs, G. M.; B. L. Lipscomb; B. O'Kennon; W. F...
Bibref 248 - Texas Wildflowers: A Field Guide (1984) Loughmiller, C. & L. Loughmiller
Bibref 291 - Texas Wildscapes: Gardening for Wildlife (1999) Damude, N. & K.C. Bender
Bibref 286 - Wildflowers of the Texas Hill Country (1989) Enquist, M.

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Clematis pitcheri in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Clematis pitcheri in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Clematis pitcheri

Metadata

Record Modified: 2010-05-06
Research By: TWC Staff, GDB

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