Curlyheads
Clematis ochroleuca
Last reviewed: August 2026
Curlyheads is toxic to dogs and cats.
Listed as toxic by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) (last reviewed 2026-05-21). If your pet has been exposed, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 and your veterinarian's emergency line.
Pollinator Patch flags toxic plants so you can choose a pet-safe native alternative for your yard.
Native swaps for a yard with pets
Curlyheads is listed as toxic to dogs by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. These natives fill a similar role in a planting and are not on the ASPCA toxic plant list for dogs or cats. Each plant's page carries its dated record.
Light
part sun
Water
medium
Size
24"–96" H × 12"–48" W
Bloom
May, Jun, Jul
Native to
GA, MD, NC, NJ and 3 more states
Pollinators
bees, beetles
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 459 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
Find rebates in your areaPicture natives in your own yard
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Browse plants for this ecoregion
Curlyheads is a native vine that produces clusters of creamy white flowers from May through July. This climbing clematis can reach 8 feet tall and develops attractive, feathery seed heads after blooming that give the plant its common name.
In an HOA neighborhood
Curlyheads is an HOA-friendly choice. Maintenance level: moderate. Tidiness: 3 out of 5.
Works well in: foundation, mid zone.
- Needs sturdy support structure
- Can look bare in winter as deciduous vine
Wildlife value
The flowers attract native bees and beetles during the long blooming period. The seed heads provide texture and interest while supporting small wildlife through fall and winter.
Common questions
- How much sun does Curlyheads need?
- Curlyheads grows best in part sun conditions.
- When does Curlyheads bloom?
- Curlyheads blooms in May, June, and July.
- Where is Curlyheads native?
- Curlyheads (Clematis ochroleuca) is native to GA, MD, NC, NJ and 3 more states, per vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists.
- Is Curlyheads toxic to dogs?
- Yes. Curlyheads is listed as toxic to dogs by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (aspca.org). If your pet has been exposed, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
- Is Curlyheads toxic to cats?
- Yes. Curlyheads is listed as toxic to cats by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (aspca.org). If your cat has been exposed, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
- What pollinators does Curlyheads attract?
- Curlyheads draws bees and beetles.
- Is Curlyheads HOA-friendly?
- Curlyheads is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with moderate maintenance.
Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Pollinator Patch flags toxic plants like Curlyheads and shows pet-safe natives for your ecoregion instead.