Native or Invasive Clematis? Check the leaves!
The native virgin’s bower, Clematis virginiana, is in full bloom in Indiana from August to September, looking like a blanket of white flowers spread over other vegetation. After blooming, numerous pistils with feathery styles give the fruit a fluffy appearance. It’s a fairly common species throughout the state in open areas and forest edges.
However, there is a look-alike invasive clematis. Clematis terniflora, or sweet autumn clematis, is moving out of cultivation in Indiana and we’d like to know if you’ve seen it in the wild. To learn the easy way to spot it (spoiler alert—it’s the leaves!), and how to report sightings, go to http://mc-iris.org/.