Chinese clematis
Discuss this plant with the guide — choose this profile as a possible match and prepare your observations for Colorado Plants & Practical Care.
Clematis orientalis
Colorado noxious weed · List B — Stop the spread. CO-rules-2025
Established in some areas. Requirements vary by location: eradication, containment or suppression to stop further spread. This is a management category, separate from danger ratings. Category source · What the lists mean.
Smothers vegetation; irritating plant compounds. Exposure help.
Identification caveat: Native clematis can be difficult to distinguish when not flowering. The toxicology reference treats Clematis broadly; horticultural recommendations for other clematis are not applied to this listed weed.
Still researching this plant
This is a sourced working profile. Evidence is incomplete for Dogs & cats. Identification and source-photo limits are explained below. Independent botanical and veterinary review is pending. Uncertainty is not a finding that the plant is safe.
Three views of this plant
Source-identified reference photographs; these are not a complete identification key. A source location outside Colorado does not establish local occurrence.
Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo source and identification
Original record · Original image
Source-identified photograph with visual consistency check Clematis orientalis in the Botanischer Garten, Berlin-Dahlem Source labeling and visible consistency checked; not an independent specimen determination.
Wikimedia-generated thumbnail rescaling only; downloaded bytes unchanged. Gallery display preserves the full image; the catalog preview uses a CSS crop.
Yuriy75 · Public domain
Photo source and identification
Original record · Original image
Source-identified photograph with visual consistency check Ломонос восточный ( Clematis orientalis ), цветки. Город Байконур, Казахстан Source labeling and visible consistency checked; not an independent specimen determination.
Wikimedia-generated thumbnail rescaling only; downloaded bytes unchanged. Gallery display preserves the full image; the catalog preview uses a CSS crop.
Ruslan Kastani · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo source and identification
Original record · Original image
Source-identified photograph with visual consistency check State Forest Nature Reservat "Semey Ormany": East Kazakhstan Region Source labeling and visible consistency checked; not an independent specimen determination.
Wikimedia-generated thumbnail rescaling only; downloaded bytes unchanged. Gallery display preserves the full image; the catalog preview uses a CSS crop.
Recognize
A perennial vine with compound leaves, yellow bell-shaped flowers and feathery seedheads. J-chinese-clematis
Plants & habitat
Climbs fences, shrubs and trees; heavy coverage can kill supporting vegetation. J-chinese-clematis
People
NC State’s Clematis account reports mouth injury after ingestion and contact dermatitis. Use gloves and avoid tasting. N-clematis
Evidence scope: Genus-level warning, not a C. orientalis exposure series.
Dogs & cats
The genus source flags dogs and cats for vomiting, drooling and diarrhea. Keep pets from chewing; species-specific thresholds are unresolved. N-clematis
Evidence scope: Genus-level warning.
Other animals
The same genus source flags horses. No safe forage amount is established for Chinese clematis. N-clematis
Evidence scope: Genus-level warning.
Before taking action
Confirm identification and the requirements of your county weed program. For chemical treatment, follow the current product label, including restrictions around animals and water. S27
References
- CO-rules-2025 — Colorado Noxious Weed Act rules, 8 CCR 1206-2, Colorado Secretary of State / Department of Agriculture. Accessed 2026-09-07T01:07:48+00:00. Locator: Parts 3.1, 4.1, 5.1; management provisions; effective May 15, 2025.
- J-chinese-clematis — Chinese Clematis, Jefferson County, Colorado. Accessed 2026-09-07T01:08:55+00:00. Locator: Species description and management.
- N-clematis — Clematis, NC State Extension. Accessed 2026-09-07T01:16:20+00:00. Locator: Species identity, description, ecological and exposure evidence; verify group scope.
- S27 — 2103 – Colorado Noxious Weeds, PlantTalk Colorado · CSU Extension. Accessed 2026-09-07T00:23:57+00:00. Locator: List A, B and C management categories.