Clematis crispa

Swamp Leather Flower


Plant Specifics

Life Span:Long-lived perennial
Flower Color:Lavender
Fruit Color:White
Phenology:Winter dormant
Noted for:Aroma, Fragrance, Showy flowers, Showy fruits, Interesting foliage


Recommended Uses:Grow on a trellis or fence.
Considerations:To remain attractive and not become a mass of past growth, cut it back occasionally. Thin out old stems.
Propagation:Seed (may take several years to sprout), cuttings, division.
Light: Part Shade
Moisture Tolerance:
always floodedextremely dry
Soil or other substrate:Loam, Organic material (muck), Sand
Soil pH:Adaptable



Attracts  hummingbords.


Larval host for mournful thyris (Thyris sepulchralis).

Attracts bees and butterflies. 

Native Habitats:Riverine swamps, wet hammocks. This species can be seen near the boardwalks at Flint Creek and Sargeant Parks in Hillsborough County.

Distribution and Planting Zones

Natural Range in Florida
USDA Zones

Suitable to grow in:
8A 8B 9A 9B 

USDA zones are based on minimum winter temperatures


Ethnobotany:Poisonous to humans.