Last updated on December 2nd, 2011
IN SEPTEMBER the snow-white stars of Sweet Autumn Clematis bring the sweetness of vanilla to my garden. I consider this C. terniflora a great “concealing” vine, for it can ramble some 30 feet, and effectively hide a chain-link fence, a shabby shed, or some other eyesore on a property. Here it masks the lattice surrounding the pool equipment. It is the easiest of all the clematis vines to grow:
Terniflora prefers to have its feet in the shade and its head in the sun. To keep roots shaded and cool, place a 3-inch layer of shredded woodchips at the plant’s base.
Provide the vine deep weekly soakings during the first spring and summer; thereafter you need not bother. Mine has prospered through the worst of droughts, with neither supplemental water nor food of any kind.
Some gardeners cut back terniflora to a foot or so in early spring. I never do. But then my goal is to achieve rapid and exuberant coverage on a not-so-pretty fence. If you’d like more restrained growth, prune judiciously.
Because it blooms at a time when flowers are scarce, and also because it is so utterly undemanding, I consider the Sweet Autumn Clematis a perfect perennial. Give it a fence, a tree, or a sturdy trellis to climb, and it will reward you each and every September with a charming display of cookie-scented blossoms.
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Eric says
My neighbor's terniflora (thanks for the proper name!) is in bloom now. It's really magnificent!
Samantha says
Kevin, I have this vine growing on my cedar fence, and really love it. It gives me something to look forward to at summer's end.
Carol says
This is GREAT plant! I have it on the east side of my house and it blooms with only a half day of sun.
Lisa says
I've read some articles about this plant that describe it as so toxic you should wash your hands after working with it. What has een your experience? I need a vine that is a very vigorous grower my goal is to cover my sunny house with flowering vines (ugly siding) but I don't want to plant something that is going to make people or animals sick. I've got lots of trumpet vines and honeysuckle growing. A pop of white in the fall would be great.
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Lisa – While I can't speak for your pets, I can tell you that neither my dog nor the various stray cats that visit here are drawn to the Autumn Clematis.
I've handled the vine frequently during summer, since I like to guide its growth through the lattice fencing. To my knowledge, I've not suffered any dermatological reaction from the plant. But you are right — probably best to wash hands after contact. Thanks for reminding me!
Phoebe says
I have a huge trumpet vine on my arbor. It's poisonous too, but my dogs don't touch it.