Māori name: Pōhue, Akakaikū, Puatataua

English name: Clematis

Scientific name: Clematis afoliata, Clematis foetida, Clematis forsteri, Clematis paniculata

NZ Status: Endemic

Conservation Status (NZTCS): Gradual Decline (Clematis afoliata) / Not threatened 

Found: The genus Clematis is widespread, mostly in temperate regions.

Did you know? Most continents and many countries have native clematis but New Zealand's clematis are special; they are dioecious. This means that they have separate female and male plants with different flowers.

Photo Credit: Janice McKenna

Clematis is a genus of over 250 species of vines and ascending perennial herbs found throughout the world. The word ‘clematis’ comes from the Greek for ‘vine shoot’ on account of its climbing habit. 

There are about nine indigenous New Zealand clematis species with white, greenish-yellow or yellow flowers, a colour range representative of many endemic plants. 

Fire, weeds, stock grazing and wild animals such as possums pose threats to indigenous plant communities that support clematis vines in Wellington.

Look for them: You can spot the white above the canopy on the western slope of the valley when it is flowing in summer or climbing up the side of the ZEALANDIA visitor centre.