About Clematis texensis Buckley
Clematis texensis Buckley is an herbaceous, slightly woody vine that can climb up to nine feet tall. It produces bell-shaped flowers during spring and summer. Its flower structures are thick and leathery, with scarlet-colored sepals. After blooming, the plant develops a feathery ball of plumed seeds. This species of Clematis is very hardy and drought-tolerant; when planted in sunny locations, its flowers may persist until the first frost. Crosses between Clematis texensis and other clematis varieties have yielded cultivars that are showier than the wild species, including 'Duchess of Albany', 'Princess Diana', 'Gravetye Beauty', 'Sir Trevor Lawrence', and 'Etoile Rose', with flower colors ranging from pink to dark scarlet red. Both Clematis texensis itself and its hybrid crosses typically have four petals, and their blossoms resemble lily-flowered tulips, sometimes appearing as downward-facing bells. Dried, chopped stems of this plant can be brewed into a tea used to treat headaches and migraines. Historically, a tincture made from this plant was used as a counter-irritant: when applied to the skin surface, it produces a mild irritation that counteracts underlying discomfort.
