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Virgins Bower produces no seed #872565

Asked June 11, 2024, 9:44 AM EDT

I received one virgins bower plant several years ago from a friend. It is growing WELL and flowers, but I never get any seed heads. I have taken cuttings which are growing into mature plants, but still no seed heads on any of the plants. I understand that plants probably need cross-fertilization and maybe can't get it from a "cloned" offspring.. https://www.minnesotawildflowers.info/shrub/virgins-bower How can I assure that if I purchase another plant it would be a candidate for cross-fertilization? Thank you for your response.

Chisago County Minnesota

Expert Response

According to experts at the University of Wisconsin, your clematis "is normally dioecious (separate male and female plants) so a single plant will not produce seed.

Male plants will not produce seeds nor will your plant and its clones because they are either male plants or female plants in the absence of a pollinator.  

If you purchase another plant that has seed heads, you'll know you have a female plant.  However, we don't know how to identify a male plant because an absence of seed heads isn't definitive.

Learn more here:

https://mastergardener.extension.wisc.edu/files/2017/09/Clematis_terniflora.pdf

An Ask Extension Expert Replied June 15, 2024, 9:56 PM EDT

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