Scarlet leather flower facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Scarlet leather flower
Scientific classification

Clematis texensis, also known as the scarlet leather flower, is a beautiful climbing plant. It belongs to the buttercup family, which is called Ranunculaceae. This plant grows naturally only in a special part of Texas, in the United States. You can find it on rocky limestone cliffs and near streams.

What Does It Look Like?

This Clematis is a vine that can climb quite high, up to nine feet (about 2.7 meters)! It has stems that are a bit soft and green (herbaceous) but also slightly woody.

Flowers and Seeds

Its special bell-shaped flowers bloom in spring and summer. These flowers grow on the new parts of the plant. The petals are thick and feel a bit like leather. They are a bright scarlet red color. After the flowers bloom, you'll see a fluffy ball of seeds. These seeds have feathery plumes that help them fly away in the wind.

Growing Conditions

The scarlet leather flower is a very tough plant. It can handle dry weather well, meaning it's "drought tolerant." If it gets plenty of sunshine, its flowers can stay colorful until the first frost of winter arrives.

Growing This Plant

People often grow Clematis texensis in gardens. Gardeners have also mixed it with other types of clematis plants. This creates new kinds of clematis that have even more colorful flowers.

Popular Varieties

Some popular varieties created from Clematis texensis include "Duchess of Albany" and "Princess Diana." Other well-known ones are "Gravetye Beauty," "Sir Trevor Lawrence," and "Etoile Rose." These new plants come in many shades, from light pink to deep scarlet red.

Flower Shapes

Clematis texensis and its mixed varieties usually have four petals. Their blossoms often look like lily-shaped tulips. Sometimes, the flowers hang downwards like bells.

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  A hybrid of Clematis texensis in cultivation

Historical Uses

In the past, people sometimes used parts of the Clematis texensis plant. Dried stems could be brewed into a tea. This tea was used to help with headaches.

Images for kids

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  Flowerbud, Princess Diana variety