Zone: Inner Walkway (The Kitchen Pharmacy)

Season of Interest: Late Spring (May/June) and Late Summer (August/September)

The Doctor’s Notes (Medicinal Use)

In the 1800s, Clematis was used with precision, primarily for external conditions. Dr. Woodward likely understood its role as a "rubefacient"—an agent that reddens the skin by increasing blood flow:

• Skin Disorders: Used topically to treat chronic skin eruptions, sores, and persistent itching.

• Pain Relief: Tinctures were sometimes applied to the skin to soothe neuralgic pain and inflammatory joint conditions.

• Cautionary Herb: Because the sap of fresh Clematis can be an irritant to the skin, it was handled carefully and often used in a dried or highly diluted form.

The Household Assistant (Homestead Use)

Clematis served a dual purpose in a mid-19th-century landscape like the Woodward property:

• Vertical Cooling: These vines were often grown over porches or trellises to provide natural shade, cooling the house during the humid Connecticut summers.

• Ornamental Pride: By the Victorian era, "fancy" flowering vines were a mark of a well-kept home. The Clematis was prized for its ability to produce two flushes of blooms—once on the old wood in spring and again on new growth in late summer.

• Fragrance: Many heritage varieties offered a subtle, sweet scent that would waft through open windows in the evening.

Botanist’s Corner

• Form: A woody climbing vine that uses its petioles (leaf stalks) to twist around supports.

• Growth Habit: This species is unique for its reblooming capability. It flowers on the previous year's stems in late spring and then develops a second set of blooms on new summer growth.

• Flowers: Showy and varied, featuring large, star-like blooms. Interestingly, the "petals" are actually colored sepals. Once the flowers fade, they are replaced by attractive, feathery seed heads that add texture to the fall garden.