Description

The foothill clematis is easy to miss in the wild for most of the year. It tends to grow among other shrubs, winding its way through and over branches to reach the sun. The oval, deeply lobed leaves are a neutral green and easily blend in with its supportive companion plants. The plant stands out first in the spring when it is covered with abundant creamy white flowers, and then when the long hairy “tails” of the seeds develop in the summer months. Once the seeds have developed, foothill clematis goes largely dormant until the cool moist months of late winter. In the garden, foothill clematis will appreciate well-draining soil and some shade protection. A site where it can grow up into the sun from a shady base would simulate its natural habitat.