Virginia Clematis

Ecology & Conservation

Proximity Score

0

Native Status

✅ Outaouais ✅ Ottawa ✅ QC ✅ ON

Closest Direction

Local

CEC Eco-Regions

5 – Northern Forests, 5.2 – Mixed Wood Shield, 5.2.3 – Algonquin/Southern Laurentians

Rarity Notes

Globally secure (G5). Ranked S5 in Ontario and S4 in Quebec. Not listed under SARA or COSEWIC. Common throughout eastern North America from Nova Scotia to Manitoba south to Georgia and Oklahoma.

S22 S26

Rarity Ranks

QC S4 – Apparently Secure, ON S5 – Secure

Migration

Stable

Ecological Context

Common native vine of moist woods, thickets, stream banks, and disturbed edges throughout the Ottawa-Gatineau region. Climbs by twisting petioles over shrubs and fences along riverbanks and floodplain margins. Listed as Common in the Ottawa flora (2005) with 481 GBIF observations in the Gatineau bounding box. Herbarium specimens from Gatineau Park document it twining over herbs and shrubs on igneous rocky hillsides and in marshy soils near streams.

S62 S48 S7 S10

Permaculture & Companion Planting

Roles

Fire Retardant, Fortress/Barrier, Pollinator Attractor

S73/S29/S72 Evidence: Fire Retardant: S73 [MEDIUM]: S11 Fire Tolerance = Medium (not definitional)] | Fortress/Barrier: S61 keyword match: thorns? (supporting signal only)] | Pollinator Attractor: S73 [MEDIUM]: S68 16 bee associations (threshold=3)]

Notes

Tolerates juglone, making it a useful vine companion near black walnut. In the wild, commonly observed climbing over Cornus and Rhus typhina in moist thickets. Deer and rabbit resistant, providing a living fence or barrier when trained on structures. Attracts 16 bee species including Bombus impatiens and B. terricola.

S3 S7 S68 S72

Medicinal Properties

ℹ

Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any plant for medicinal purposes. The information provided is compiled from secondary sources for educational purposes only.

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Category

Analgesic, Gastrointestinal Aid, Kidney Aid, Dermatological Aid, Urinary Aid, Venereal Aid, Hallucinogen, Ceremonial Medicine

S28

Notes

Cherokee used an infusion with milkweed (Asclepias) for backache, and root infusions for stomach trouble, nerves, and kidneys. Also used as an ingredient in green corn ceremonial medicine. Iroquois applied root powder and infusions to venereal disease sores, used decoctions of stems as a wash to induce dreams, and took preparations for kidney and urinary complaints.

S28

Edibility & Foraging

ℹ

Never ingest a plant unless you have 100% certainty of its identity and have consulted multiple reputable sources. The information provided in the Localeaf Plant Database is compiled from secondary sources for educational and historical purposes only.

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❌ Not Edible   

Foraging Notes

Not edible. All parts contain the irritant protoanemonin (anemonin), causing severe mouth pain and skin blistering on contact. No food uses recorded in Moerman's ethnobotanical database.

S4 S28

Toxicity

⚠️ Moderate Toxicity

Contains protoanemonin (anemonin), which causes severe burning sensation and ulceration of the mouth if ingested, and contact dermatitis (skin redness and blistering) on handling. All parts are toxic to mammals. S4 warns of poisonous parts causing skin irritation if touched or inhaled. S3 notes it causes skin rashes. Effects are generally short-lived but painful.

S4 S3 S11

Seed Source

• Akène
• OWSL