Clematis ochroleuca is a species of flowering plants in the buttercup family, Ranunculaceae, known by the common names curlyheads and erect silky leather-flower. It is native to North America.
Clematis ochroleuca is one of the easiest of the American native species to grow. This herbaceous perennial is very tidy in the perennial border growing only to 24 inches (60 cm). This group includes some very special and rare species including C. albicoma, C. coactilis, C. fremontii, and C. viticaulis. All of these are clematis that do not climb. C. ochroleuca has erect stems that are ribbed and have silky hairs especially closest to the leaf nodes. They develop lateral branches which enhances the number of flowers. The stems tend to be a light brown to a deeper violet brown. This furry little gem was first described by W. Aiton in Hortus Kewensis in 1789. The common name for Clematis ochroleuca is curlyheads from the fabulous persistent seed heads which appear as golden globes when backlit in the setting sun.
