Found in Portland Oregon. It came from a tree about 10-12 ft tall. It smells very sweet, almost like Jasmine.
Does anyone know what it is?
1 Answer
It isn't a tree - if it was in a tree, it's because it climbed up into it, as it often does if it can. It's a climbing plant called Clematis vitalba, common name Traveller's Joy. Many other forms of clematis are incorrectly called Traveller's Joy, so best to stick to the botanical/Latin name of C. vitalba if you need to tell anyone precisely what it is. Grows wild in the UK and Europe, often found in hedgerows; I'm not sure whether it grows wild in parts of America too, or whether this one has been deliberately planted. Flowers July through to September and is, indeed, fragrant.
http://www.wildflowersofireland.net/plant_detail.php?id_flower=290&wildflower=Traveller%27s%20Joy
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1I believe Prairie Travelers Joy is a cultivar of C. vitalba. I have a similar clematis also developed, like Prairie Traveler's Joy, by Frank Skinner. This plant is extremely vigorous and easily grows 10 feet (3 M) tall in a season. The fragrance is pleasant and not overwhelming.– kevinskio ♦Aug 15, 2016 at 11:54
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1@kevinsky - Prairie TJ is a hybrid with clematis ligusticifolia - its flowers are whiter than C.vitalba, which is probably in the mix with it somewhere.Even so, C vitalba is the original, naturally occurring plant called traveller's joy... now annoyingly applied to many hybrid forms. Well, I find it annoying, but then I find common names annoying generally;-)– BambooAug 15, 2016 at 12:23
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1@Bamboo , I am not entirely convinced that it is Travellers Joy. It produces a smell that is very sweet and subtle, which reminds me of my grandmothers garden. It assuredly came from a tree without any vines/climbers. The next time I am in the area, I will take another picture.– AceAug 15, 2016 at 20:34
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I'll be interested to see it, but check for something growing next to, or some feet away, or nearby ending up in the tree when you do take pics...– BambooAug 15, 2016 at 20:44