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Clematis lasiantha –Ranunculaceae - ‘Chaparral Clematis,' ‘Canyon Clematis,' 'Pipe-stems.' – This is the showiest California native Clematis. Its beauty is highlighted by clusters of sweet-scented white flowers, followed by long lasting clusters of seeds with their distinctive feathery tails which catch the sunlight beautifully. With a long history of medicinal use, recently some species of Clematis, including this, have gained attention as being effective for some in combating migraine headaches.
Like most Clematis, in the garden it prefers shady roots and sunny tops. In its native canyon habitat, it will transform drab Chaparral shrubs into baffling balls of white flowers, which, on closer inspection, reveal themselves to be vines using the dry branches as a convenient trellis. This is cold hardy to at least 15ºF, and probably lower. The seeds for this were collected from a high ridge of Cone Peak in the Santa Lucia Mountains, and will be among the cold-hardiest specimens of the species.