Is this Clematis or something else?

[kinkytoes]

I agree it is oriental bittersweet. It looks close to the evil vines I've been trying to eradicate from the wooded areas for the past three years. If you're still not sure, I'd get an ID from the state, and then cut it down before it can set seed. BTW, OP I love the wooden siding and path.

[txmg]

Thanks for the responses! I've been looking up Bittersweet and yikes!

Here in MN if it is the Oriental kind, it is not supposed to be bought, sold or planted. I actually kind of doubt it is Oriental. The previous owners built this house and were very meticulous. And she was into native plant gardening and land preservation. I really doubt they'd build a whole trellis and hand stake an invasive plant.

The other thing is there were no berries last year. And my new understanding is that the Oriental kind flowers and berries all over the stems. I may have pruned off all possible berry sources last year if it is the American kind. I can't recollect flowers, but I gather they are small, so I probably just didn't take note of them.

But I do gather, even if it is the American kind that keeping it in control will still be quite the task. I have a number of garden areas that need attention, so if it isn't invasive, I may let this go a couple of years. But it is likely to be coming down. I just have to figure out what to replace it with. It is a nice spot for a climbing type plant.

[kinkytoes]

Cool...sadly I've never seen a native bittersweet. The poo I have drops seeds if it gets high enough. If you want suggestions for native vines, let me know. I have two which I like.

[J&Em]

Originally Posted by txmg

Thanks for the responses! I've been looking up Bittersweet and yikes!

Here in MN if it is the Oriental kind, it is not supposed to be bought, sold or planted. I actually kind of doubt it is Oriental. The previous owners built this house and were very meticulous. And she was into native plant gardening and land preservation. I really doubt they'd build a whole trellis and hand stake an invasive plant.

The other thing is there were no berries last year. And my new understanding is that the Oriental kind flowers and berries all over the stems. I may have pruned off all possible berry sources last year if it is the American kind. I can't recollect flowers, but I gather they are small, so I probably just didn't take note of them.

But I do gather, even if it is the American kind that keeping it in control will still be quite the task. I have a number of garden areas that need attention, so if it isn't invasive, I may let this go a couple of years. But it is likely to be coming down. I just have to figure out what to replace it with. It is a nice spot for a climbing type plant.

It looked like it had been purposely planted and at one time cared for, and several of the pictures are typical for American Bittersweet. Sometimes it can have more rounded looking leaves, similar to the Oriental so ID is not perfect on just leaves alone, even by experts. Most ID by the flower and berry location. If the former owners were as fussy about environmental or conservation issues as they sound from your description, it is one more hint that it is likely the American form. Since the American form is pretty rare it may be worth the trouble to keep it; many people have treasured it for the berries in the winter which are very popular for Christmas type decorating but more importantly for people concerned with wildlife habitats, it provides shelter and late winter food for several bird species. Given a choice I (personally) would try hard to not rip down an increasingly rare native that is healthy and otherwise not giving trouble but we each know our limitations and needs and you should keep what works for you in your garden, especially with a vine that can become quite large! Replacement suggestions would depend on sun and soil conditions

Just so you know, there are male and female vines and both have to be present for fruit (berries) to form. It is possible that the people planted both but one survived or they are intertwined, but if you go another year with out berries assume you have only one sex. You may want to prune it now to keep it in check. It won't effect the flower production next spring if you do.

[luvmycat]

I have a vine that just won't go away...I've dug the darned thing up THREE times now, but those roots must run very deep because it keeps coming back! It's beautiful and blooms like crazy, but it overruns everything and strangles any surrounding plants, plus it's a big mess to clean up in the fall, with all the twisty vines all over the place when I've let it grow. I just keep clipping it back every week, this thing grows so fast it's ridiculous...I think I'll just keep clipping it back and let it live in case anyone I know wants an incredibly fast-growing vine that can't be killed, LOL!

[gentlearts]

Originally Posted by Hollytree

A climbing hydrangea?????

A climbing hydrangea has shaggy peeling bark. I think it might be bittersweet. If not, it looks a lot like it.