Clematis microphylla or Small-leaved Clematis is a variable, attractive climbing vine quite common in drier forest and coastal scrub, capable of scrambling up to 5 m or more through adjacent plants. It adapts well to gardens with white starry male and female flowers appearing on separate plants in late winter and spring followed by a mass of fluffy seeds (which gives it another name, old man’s beard, though this can refer to a few different plants).
The Small-leaved Clematis is found throughout SE Australia while the genus is found all over the world. Clematis comes from the Greek word klema, meaning “vine branch” which reflects the climbing habit typical of clematis species, while microphylla is Latin for “small leaves” (micro meaning “small” and phylla meaning “leaf”).
Small-leaved Clematis has a number of uses and including as a remedy for headaches, colds, and other ailments. Its leaves and stems, when crushed, release an aromatic scent that is believed to help relieve symptoms. Sometimes, inhaling the scent of crushed leaves can help clear sinuses and ease respiratory issues.
You can buy Clematis from the Shrub Club Community Nursery or if you’d like to learn more about local native plants SOLN (Southern Otway Landcare Network) runs a weekly plant walk over the summer usually leaving from the office at 69 Nelson St at 2:30pm each Tuesday.
