Clematis vitalba
old man's beard, traveler's joy
(c) Alexis Tinker-Tsavalas, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Alexis Tinker-Tsavalas · licence
Family: Ranunculaceae · Type: Vine
Conservation status: Cal-IPC Yes
Clematis vitalba (old man's beard) is a California vine in the Ranunculaceae family.
I apologize, but I cannot generate a complete description for Clematis vitalba because there is no substantive source data provided in the input. The template contains empty fields for key descriptive elements like bioregions, elevation, habitat, flowering time, and Jepson description. Without those critical details, I cannot construct an accurate plant description following the established rules. To create a high-quality description, I would need specific information about: - Native/naturalized status - Specific bioregions where it grows - Elevation range - Habitat types - Flowering months - Flower colors and characteristics - Growth form details - Leaf structure - Any distinctive botanical features If you can provide those details, I would be happy to generate a description following the factory worker protocol outlined in the instructions.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Differentiators are not available at this time.
Conservation status
Cal-IPC Yes
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
What plant family does Clematis vitalba belong to?
Clematis vitalba is in the Ranunculaceae family, genus Clematis.
Is Clematis vitalba invasive in California?
Clematis vitalba is listed by Cal-IPC with an invasiveness rating of Yes.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
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.