Clematis ligusticifolia, Western Virgin's Bower

Clematis ligusticifolia

This deciduous vine is one of the sturdiest and most drought-tolerant of native vines. It has elegant white flowerbuds which, if cut before the flowers open, make charming dried flowers. Numerous fragrant pure white flowers appear in late summer and are followed by showy glistening seedpods, particularly dramatic when backlit at the end of the day.

It thrives in sum or part-shade and does well when covering chainlink fences or clambering over trees and shrubs. It is very similar to Clematis lasiantha, which grows in hotter, drier situations, such as in chaparral.