plant What are the differences between Clematis terniflora, Clematis patens, and Clematis japonica? An explanation of how to distinguish between similar species.
Clematis terniflora, Clematis patens, and Clematis japonica all belong to the genus Clematis in the Ranunculaceae family and are climbing semi-shrubs found in Japanese forests. They share several common features, including compound leaves, flowers with white sepals instead of petals, and feathery fruits, which can sometimes make them difficult to distinguish.