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sweet autumn clematis (Clematis terniflora) is an invasive species in Florida:
- Invasive status: The UF/IFAS Assessment of Non-Native Plants in Florida’s Natural Areas lists sweet autumn clematis as a high invasion risk. In north and central Florida, it’s considered a Category II invasive plant, meaning it’s invading native plant communities but hasn’t yet displaced native species.
- Ecological threat: Sweet autumn clematis can grow vigorously over other vegetation, blocking sunlight and forming dense blankets. It’s often found invading forest edges, right-of-ways, and urban areas along streams and roads.
- Toxicity: Sweet autumn clematis is toxic to humans.
Here are some other characteristics of sweet autumn clematis:-
OriginNative to northeastern Asia, including China, Japan, Korea, Mongolia, Siberia, and Taiwan.
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IntroductionIntroduced to the United States in the late 1800s as an ornamental garden plant.
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AppearanceA vigorous, climbing, deciduous to semi-evergreen, perennial vine with opposite, compound leaves of 3 leaflets. The flowers are white with four petals and are produced late summer through fall.
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Look-alikesThere are several native species of Clematis in the U.S. that look similar to sweet autumn clematis, including virginsbower (C. virginiana) and satincurls (C. catesbyana). The native species have serrated (jagged) leaf edges, while sweet autumn clematis has smooth leaf edges.
- Invasive status: The UF/IFAS Assessment of Non-Native Plants in Florida’s Natural Areas lists sweet autumn clematis as a high invasion risk. In north and central Florida, it’s considered a Category II invasive plant, meaning it’s invading native plant communities but hasn’t yet displaced native species.
The American wisteria (Wisteria frutescens) is a native wisteria that is not invasive.
