Charming and useful Clematis
03rd May 2026
By Chris Clarke
Clematis microphylla (meaning small leaved) and Clematis decipiens (meaning deceptive) are both beautiful light and local climbers for your garden. Several years ago, botanists split the small-leaved clematis into three species. These two both occur locally in the Merri Creek catchment and the western plains. But, to tell the difference, you'll need to count the leaflets … and I don’t bother.
Local indigenous nurseries, VINC, Fairfield and Nangak Tamboree at Latrobe University, seem to call them all Clematis microphylla. VicFlora:The Flora of Victoria has full descriptions and is a very useful place to check out the natural distribution of Victorian plants. See the discussion of the deceptive Clematis decipiens here.
Our local Clematis is a very tough garden plant and makes a useful screen. It handles dry conditions and enjoys shrubs, or a fence to grow on. It can get quite vigorous, but comes back well from a hard pruning.
The photo below shows it scrambling over the local form of Grevillea rosmarinifolia and Lomandra longifolia on a rocky knoll at galgi ngarrk (Craigieburn Grasslands). Note the contrast and that the local form of Grevillea rosmarinifolia is quite small and dense compared to a lot of nursery forms.
Image credit: Clematis microphylla with Grevillea rosmarinifolia and Lomandra longifolia, photo by Chris Clarke
After the lovely white star flowers in late Winter/Spring, the plant is covered in fluffy seeds that some birds use for nesting material. According to the Museum of South Australia, our first peoples used the cooked roots for food, fibre for twine and the crushed leaves as a medicine.
The photos below show Clematis microphylla growing over a log fence at Westgate Park and growing in the wild at Plenty Gorge, with Hardenbergia violacea – another lovely contrast.
Image credit: Clematis microphylla, left, growing over a log fence at Westgate Park;
Clematis microphylla, right, growing in the wild at Plenty Gorge, with Hardenbergia violacea, photos by Chris Clarke.
Our thanks to Chris Clarke, FoMC member.
Member of the Australian Plants Society (Victoria) – Keilor Plains (Maribyrnong) Group.