Easy to grow and vigorous once established, this climbing beauty is native throughout the Midwest.  It is also known by the names “love vine,” “traveler’s joy,” “wild hops” and “Virginia Virgin’s Bower.”  Less complementary monikers include “devil’s darning needles” and “devil’s hair.”  One thing to be cautious of when selecting this plant is to not confuse it with its non-native cousin, Sweet Autumn Clematis (Clematis terniflora).  The latter plant is highly invasive and will run amok!  Virgin’s Bower is a pretty good grower in and of itself.  So be careful where you plant it, as it can be invasive in a garden setting.  

Virgin’s Bower self-seeds and will root anywhere a shoot touches the ground.  It is hardy through Zone 3 and does best in full sun, although it is tolerant of light shade.  Virgin’s Bower is a woody vine that can grow to 8 to 15 feet.  It tolerates a range of well-drained soils from moist to dry, clay to sandy. 

As you might imagine, Virgin’s Bower does best in natural landscapes.  It is great for planting along fence lines or on large arbors.  It creates a welcome habitat for pollinators in mid-summer and early fall.  Virgin’s Bower also does well as a ground cover on any steep slopes you might be trying to cover.  Plants are dioecious, being either male or female.  So, check with your nursery when you buy, to assure flowering.  If you do, you will be treated to a blanket of white flowers in mid-summer into early fall.  The female plants form single dry seeds (achenes) in the fall which persist into winter.  These silky, plumed seeds are one of the great ornamental assets of the plant.

If you are a clematis lover, as am I, you will find Virgin’s Bower a low maintenance, vigorous yet charming addition to your collection.

Photo Credits: Peter M. Dziuk, Minnesota Wildflowers (usage authorized) (1), © Mary Free, Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia (usage authorized for educational use) (2-3)