Clematis sentianoides

Location & distribution maps

Plant  information

• Clematis is a genus which is well known in cultivation with a number of exotic species and cultivars being widely grown in many parts of the world

• They are usually climbing plants with well over 200 species occurring in many countries; there are about 6 or 7 Australian species.

Common name:         Bushy Clematis

Conservation status: Least Concern

• Not considered to be at risk in the wild

Etymology:   

• Clematis….from Greek, clematis, a climber

• gentanioides….like the genus Gentiana

Flowers

• Flowering occurs from late spring to mid summer with male and female flowers being borne on separate plants

• The flowers are terminal on the erect branches and are are star-shaped, white up to 6cm across with 4-8 petaloid sepals, with no true petals

Fruit:                            

• The flowers are followed (on the female plants) by fluffy seed heads

Leaves:         

• The simple leaves are opposite, lanceolate, and about 8 cm long, veins pinnate but appearing longitudinal

Stem & branches: 

Roots:         

Habit:        

• In contrast to most other species, Clematis gentianoides is a small, erect, non-climbing plant to 45 cm high, with many short branching stems arising close together from a persistent rootstock

Habitat:   

• Woodlands, often on rocky slopes

Distribution:                  

•  Scattered widely in the north and east of Tasmania   

Additional notes:     

• Cultivation

  • Not often cultivated, C. gentianoides would make an interesting rockery plant. 

  • It prefers a sunny or semi shaded position and is reported as easy to grow but does not like to dry out in the summer (so may need extra water in a dry position.

  • Propagation can be carried out from fresh seed and from cuttings

Sources of information:

• https://anpsa.org.au/plant_profiles/clematis-gentianoides/#:~:text=In%20contrast%20to%20most%20other,veins%20pinnate%20but%20appearing%20longitudinal (2024)