How to identify Vasevine (Clematis viorna)

How to identify Vasevine (Clematis viorna)

Vasevine, also known as Vase-Vine Leatherflower

Vasevine exhibits its vitality through a deciduous, woody structure, twining gracefully with delicate yet robust stems. The perennial grows moderately to around 10 feet (3 meters) in length. Its leaves are compound, usually trifoliate, with each leaflet showcasing an ovate to lanceolate shape. During the blooming season, vasevine unfurls bell-shaped, pendulous flowers, sometimes marked by a subtle hue range within violet to creamy yellow palette. The inflorescence is a clear identifier alongside the plant’s unique seed heads that display plumy, silken tails lasting into winter.

Lifespan: Perennial

Plant Type: Vine

Leaf Type: Deciduous

Quickly Identify Vasevine

Twining 10-foot (3 meter) woody structure with trifoliate leaves.

Bell-shaped, pendulous flowers in violet to creamy yellow hues.

Distinctive ornate seed heads with plumy, silken tails for wind dispersal.

Compound stems with tendril-like terminals and lanceolate leaflets.

Smooth stem, 0.1 to 0.2 inches (2.5 to 5 mm) thick, varying in hairiness.

Detailed Traits of Vasevine

Leaf Features

Vasevine has compound stems with 4-8 leaflets including a tendril-like terminal leaflet. Leaflets can be unlobed or have two to three lobes, sometimes further divided into sub-leaflets. They exhibit varying degrees of hairiness on the underside. Leaves are alternate, simple or odd-pinnately compound. Simple leaves and leaflets are lanceolate, 3 inches (7.6 cm) long by 2 inches (5 cm) wide, with entire margins and occasionally lateral lobes. The major veins are parallel.

Learn About the Leaf Glossary

Flower Features

Vasevine features single, 1-inch (2.5 cm) violet to dull purple, bell-shaped flowers. These flowers exhibit thick, fleshy, petal-like sepals, typically numbering between four and eight, and vary in color. The prominent central stamens add to their distinctive appearance. Blooming from May to fall, the flowers are particularly noted for their unique, pendulous shape and rich hues, making them easily identifiable to plant enthusiasts.

Learn About the Flower Glossary

Stem Features

The stem of vasevine is primarily smooth and may range from being almost free of hairs to having long or short soft hairs below the node. The texture can vary from almost glabrous to finely pubescent. It has a slender, somewhat wiry structure with a thickness of approximately 0.1 to 0.2 inches (2.5 to 5 mm). The color of the stem can range from light green to a deeper green with age. Branching occurs in a pattern that often supports climbing or sprawling growth.

Learn About the Stem Glossary

Fruit Features

The fruit of vasevine consists of an ornate seed head distinguished by numerous seeds. Each seed is connected to a distinctive plume-like tail, which is fuzzy in texture, aiding in dispersal by wind. These tails are instrumental for identification, providing a feathery aesthetic to the fruit. Although typically not vibrant in color, the multiple tasseled extensions can catch the observer's eye when backlit by sunlight. The overall structure is adapted for efficient wind transport, enabling the seeds to colonize new areas effectively.

Learn About the Fruit Glossary

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