Ropevine clematis
Clematis pauciflora
Last reviewed: September 2026
Ropevine clematis (Clematis pauciflora) is a perennial vine native to CA. It blooms in March and April. The flowers draw native bees and flies.
Ropevine clematis is toxic to dogs and cats.
Listed as toxic by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) (last reviewed 2026-08-15). 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.
Light
full sun
Water
low
Size
60"–120" H × 36"–72" W
Bloom
Mar, Apr
Native to
CA
Pollinators
native bees, flies
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 458 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
Find rebates in your areaBrowse plants for this ecoregion
A wiry, deciduous vine that scrambles over shrubs using twining leaf stalks, bearing small cream-colored flowers in early spring followed by feathery seed heads. It grows in dry chaparral, often tangled among neighboring shrubs.
Growing Ropevine clematis
Grow Ropevine clematis in full sun and low water. Mature plants reach 60 to 120 inches tall and spread 36 to 72 inches wide.
Wildlife value
Spring flowers offer nectar to native bees and flies, and the tangled growth gives small birds cover.
Common questions
- How much sun does Ropevine clematis need?
- Ropevine clematis grows best in full sun conditions.
- When does Ropevine clematis bloom?
- Ropevine clematis blooms in March and April.
- Where is Ropevine clematis native?
- Ropevine clematis (Clematis pauciflora) is native to CA, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
- Is Ropevine clematis toxic to dogs?
- Yes. Ropevine clematis 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 Ropevine clematis toxic to cats?
- Yes. Ropevine clematis 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 Ropevine clematis attract?
- Ropevine clematis draws native bees and flies.
Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). 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 Ropevine clematis and shows pet-safe natives for your ecoregion instead.