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Traveller's Joy

Clematis vitalba

Not yet photographed by the community

Scrambling climber; fluffy 'Old Man's Beard' seed heads.

Species Profile

Not listed; common and widespread native species

Lifespan: Perennial, typically 20–30+ years in established plants
Size & Weight: Climbing vine reaching 10–20 m in length; individual flowers 2–3 cm diameter
Habitat: Hedgerows, woodland edges, scrubland, and disturbed ground, typically on calcareous or neutral soils in warm, sunny to partly shaded locations.
UK Distribution: Native to southern England and Wales; naturalised across much of England and Wales, becoming increasingly common northwards into the Midlands and southern Scotland; absent from far north.
Diet: Photosynthetic plant; obtains nutrients from soil and sunlight
Predators: Not subject to predation as adult plant; seeds and seedlings may be eaten by small mammals and birds
Mating Season: Flowers July to September; seed maturation September to November
Breeding: Produces numerous small achenes (single-seeded fruits) with distinctive feathery plumes (awns) for wind dispersal; no fixed clutch size
Behaviour: A vigorous, deciduous climber that uses leaf-stalk twining to ascend through hedgerows and over shrubs. Produces masses of scented, creamy-white flowers attractive to insects, particularly bees and butterflies. Spreads readily by wind-dispersed seeds, capable of colonising new areas quickly.

Did You Know?

•The feathery seed heads resemble old men's beards, leading to the folk name 'Old Man's Beard'
•The dried stems were historically used as a cleaning tool, called 'Smoke Wood'
•Leaves contain an acrid compound that can cause skin irritation when handled fresh
•It is an indicator species of ancient woodland and unimproved grassland
•The plant supports numerous insect species and is highly valued for pollinators despite being sometimes considered a nuisance in gardens and hedgerows

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