Northern leatherflower is a deciduous, twining,woody, perennial vine in the buttercup family (Ranunculaceae). It is native to the north, central and eastern United States. The meaning of the specific epithet is obscur. Northern leatherflower prefers a neutral pH and moist soil with good drainage in dappled sunlight to partial shade. In the winter it dies down to a woody base and needs to be pruned in the spring (Type 3). Propagate by division, layering, seed, or stem cutting. Showy, lavender-purple, bell- or urn-shaped flowers bloom from spring to fall. The plant feeds many forms of wildlife. Butterfly, moth and fly larvae feed on the foliage and stems. The flowers attract hummingbirds, bees and butterflies. Birds eat the seed heads. Give northern leatherflower a 3-to-6-foot space to climb a trellis or spread over the ground. Place it in a naturalized area, a slope or bank, or a woodland, native, or pollinator garden. It is also suitable as a specimen or a privacy screen. Serves as a host plant for the Plebian schinx ( Paratrea plebeja ) moth. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems. VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for " Annuals, Perennials, Vines, and Groundcovers " a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens. More information on Clematis .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
3 feet-6 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
6 - Vine (vertical)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Climbing; Spreading
Texture
Fine
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Lanceolate; Ovate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Leathery
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
Compound stems have 4 to 8 leaflets plus an additional tendril-like terminal leaflet. The leaflets range from unlobed to bearing two or three lobes to further divided into two or three sub-leaflets. They have a sparse to dense coating of long or short hairs on the underside. Leaves are alternate, either simple or odd-pinnately compound. Leaflets are lanceolate, 3" long and 2" wide, with entire margins and sometimes with lateral lobes, the leaflets at the base of the leaf are the most deeply divided. The major veins of each leaf are parallel.
Flower color
Purple/Lavender; Red/Burgundy
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Head
Flower shape
Bell; Urn
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
This plant has single, 1-inch, violet to dull purple, bell-shaped flowers with thick, fleshy, petal-like sepals. Its flowers have 4 to 8 petal-like parts of various colors and many stamens. It blooms from May to fall.
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit color
Brown/Copper
Fruit type
Achene
Fruit value
Showy
Fruit detail
This plant has a large seed head with many individual seeds, each seed attached to a fuzzy plume of a tail for wind distribution.
Stem detail
Stems are almost completely free of hairs or may have long or short soft hairs below the node.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
North Central & Eastern U.S.A
Distribution
AL , AR , DC , DE , GA , IL , IN , KY , MD , MO , MS , NC , OH , PA , SC , TN , VA , WV
Wildlife value
Butterfly, moth and fly larvae feed on the foliage and stems. The flowers attract hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies. Birds eat the seed heads.
Contact Dermatitis; Poisonous to Humans; Problem for Cats; Problem for Children; Problem for Dogs; Problem for Horses
Resistant to
Deer; Rabbits
Propagation
Division; Layering; Seed; Stem Cutting
Poison severity
High
Poison parts
Leaves; Sap/Juice
Poison symptoms
Clematis can cause severe mouth pain and ulcers if eaten. Toxic to dogs, cats, horses. Clinical signs are salivation, vomiting, diarrhea. In humans, symptoms may include dizziness, confusion, fainting, and convulsions. Fatalities are rare, due to the rapid and intense bitter taste and mouth irritation from eating. Gastric lavage is recommended and anti-inflammatory to soothe irritated tissue. Contact dermatitis results in skin redness and burning sensation for some people, gardening gloves are recommended.
Toxic principle
protoanemonin
Contact dermatitis
Yes
Toxicity summary
High severity poison; parts: Leaves; Sap/Juice; contact dermatitis