Tube clematis (Clematis heracleifolia) — identification, habitat & look-alikes

Tube clematis is a low perennial native to China and Korea and grown in U.S. gardens. Instead of climbing high, it develops woody lower stems and clusters of small blue-purple tubular flowers.

Appearance

Appearance: Clusters of small blue to purple flowers form at the stem tips and leaf joints. Each flower has four petal-like .
Growth form: A low, partly woody perennial that grows about 1–3 ft (0.3–1 m) tall instead of climbing high.
Leaves: Leaves are divided into three broad leaflets with toothed edges.
Fruit: The small dry fruits keep feathery tails, making a fluffy seed head.

Look-alikes

Bush clematisClematis integrifolia

Bush clematis (Clematis integrifolia) usually has single, nodding flowers. Tube clematis carries many smaller tubular flowers together.

Why they get mixed upBoth are clematis that grow as low, nonclimbing plants.

Where it lives

Typical habitats: U.S. garden borders
East Asian woodland edges
Range: Native to China and Korea. In the United States it is grown in gardens rather than known as a native wildflower.

Name and classification

About the name: A blue-flowered form with wider-spreading sepals may be treated as a variety of tube clematis (C. heracleifolia var. tubulosa) or as a separate species (C. tubulosa).

Conservation

IUCN Red List: NENot EvaluatedNot yet assessed

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