Clematis lasiantha
Chaparral clematis, pipestem clematis, Pipestem Clematis
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Ranunculaceae · Type: Vine · Native
Clematis lasiantha (Chaparral clematis) is a native California vine in the Ranunculaceae family, recognized by inflorescence size, fruit hairiness, and flower size.
Chaparral clematis is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, northern Coast Ranges, California Foothills, Sierra Nevada Foothills, Sutter Buttes, central western, and southwestern California in chaparral, open woodland, and hillside habitats at elevations below 2,000 meters. Flowering from January to June, this plant produces white to cream-colored flowers with showy sepals 10 to 21 millimeters long and numerous stamens. Growing with climbing or sprawling stems that can reach several meters in length, it has a delicate, twining growth habit. Its leaves are distinctive, composed of 3 to 5 leaflets that are approximately three-lobed and toothed, with the largest leaflets measuring 1.5 to 6 centimeters long. The fruit is characterized by a hairy body, giving the mature plant an intricate, textured appearance.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 2 sympatric species; key features are inflorescence size, fruit hairiness, and flower size
Habitat and range
Habitat: Hillsides, chaparral, open woodland
Elevation: < 2000 m
California counties: Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Tulare, Santa Clara, Monterey, San Bernardino, San Diego, Butte, San Mateo, Mariposa, Shasta, Lake, Riverside, Ventura, Alameda, Placer, Orange, Trinity, Contra Costa, Napa, Fresno, Sonoma, Solano, Mendocino, San Benito, Madera, Yolo, El Dorado, Santa Cruz, Sutter, Kern, Stanislaus, Sacramento, Marin, Tuolumne, Nevada, Humboldt, Colusa, Calaveras, Tehama, Merced, Glenn, Plumas, Yuba
Outside California: Baja California
Bloom period
Clematis lasiantha blooms Jan-Jun.
How to tell it apart
vs Toxicodendron: Clematis has opposite leaves and four showy sepals; Toxicodendron has alternate leaves with three leaflets and tiny greenish flowers.; vs Thalictrum: Clematis is a woody vine with opposite leaves; Thalictrum is an upright herb with alternate compound leaves.; vs Rhus: Clematis is a climbing vine with opposite leaves; Rhus is a shrub with alternate pinnately compound leaves.; vs Baccharis: Clematis has opposite compound leaves and showy white sepals; Baccharis has simple alternate leaves and small fuzzy flower heads.; vs Marah: Clematis has opposite leaves and individual four-sepaled flowers; Marah has alternate palmate leaves, tendrils, and small clustered flowers.
Frequently asked questions
Is Clematis lasiantha native to California?
Yes. Clematis lasiantha is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Clematis lasiantha bloom?
Clematis lasiantha blooms Jan-Jun.
Where in California does Clematis lasiantha grow?
Clematis lasiantha occurs in Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Tulare, Santa Clara, Monterey, San Bernardino, San Diego and other counties, at elevations of < 2000 m.
What plant family does Clematis lasiantha belong to?
Clematis lasiantha is in the Ranunculaceae family, genus Clematis.
What habitat does Clematis lasiantha grow in?
Clematis lasiantha grows in Hillsides, chaparral, open woodland.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.