Old Man’s Beard
Clematis drummondii
Family: Ranunculacea
A deciduous , clamoring vine that blooms with white flowers (plants are dioecious—meaning that there are female and male plants). After flowering, female plants will present whispy, silver-tailed fruits which lend it another common name: old man’s beard.
Part sun is best in the low desert, and plants can take bright shade as well. Regular water is best. Hardy to 10°F.
Flowers attract a multitude of butterflies and other nectar-feeding pollinators. Plants are larval hosts for the the Fatal Metalmark (Calephelis nemesis).
The sap of this plant is caustic, although its foliage, stems, and roots can be used for dye if caution is used while handling and if breathing the fumes is avoided (golden brown, brown or yellow depending on the plant part used).
There are 389 species of Clematis worldwide. In Arizona there are 6 species. Clematis is the Greek name given to climbing plants, drummondii is named after Thomas Drummond (1790-1835) a Scottish naturalist.
Climbing over rocks and shrubs below 4,500’ in Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, southern Oklahoma; south into central Mexico.
The achenes are what give this plant the name "old man's beard", photo by Sue Carnahan, SEINET
Clematis will vine up most fencing, photo by María Eugenia Mendiola González, iNaturalist