Flower profile
Swamp leatherflower
Clematis crispa
Swamp leatherflower is a flowering plant that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In Louisiana it's most often seen in bloom in March–October.
*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.
On our lists for: Louisiana
Quick look
Clematis crispa is a species of flowering plant in the buttercup family known by the common name swamp leatherflower. It is found in the southeastern United States in tidal and non-tidal swamps, marshes, floodplain forests, and disturbed wet or moist areas.
- It belongs to the Ranunculaceae family. iNaturalist
- USDA PLANTS describes it as a vine with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
- USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 15 states. USDA PLANTS
- NatureServe lists it as native to Louisiana. NatureServe
- In Louisiana, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in March–October. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 634 research-grade sightings of it in Louisiana, ranking #47 among the 109 flowers on our Louisiana list. iNaturalist
Swamp leatherflower gift ideas
Handmade swamp leatherflower gifts from independent makers.
🌱 Sample spot. Handmade gift picks from independent shops will appear here once our shop partnership is approved. These cards are placeholders, not real products.
-
Placeholder
Swamp leatherflower art print
-
Placeholder
Swamp leatherflower greeting card
-
Placeholder
Swamp leatherflower mug
-
Placeholder
Swamp leatherflower earrings
-
Placeholder
Swamp leatherflower embroidery pattern
-
Placeholder
Swamp leatherflower sticker
When does it bloom?
In Louisiana, most flowering sightings come in March–October.
Conservation status
- Federal (U.S. ESA)
- Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
- NatureServe global
- G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
- Louisiana
- No list Louisiana has no state list of endangered or threatened plants separate from the federal list, so we show federal status and NatureServe's Louisiana ranks. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Louisiana.
- Rare elsewhere
- Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: IL (S1), KY (S2), OK (S1). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)
Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.
Can you eat it?
NC State Extension lists it as poisonous to humans (severity: high). Poisonous parts: leaves, sap/juice. Symptoms they list: “Clematis can cause severe mouth pain and ulcers if eaten. Toxic to dogs, cats, horses. Clinical signs are salivation, vomiting, diarrhea. In humans, symptoms may include dizziness, confusion, fainting, and convulsions. Fatalities are rare, due to the rapid…” NC State Extension
ASPCA's entry “Leatherflower” (Clematis sp), which covers the whole genus, lists it as toxic to dogs, cats and horses. Signs include: Salivation, vomiting… ASPCA
🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.
Where does it grow?
USDA PLANTS records swamp leatherflower in 15 states.
recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded
See the full list of states
Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia.
Louisiana counties with USDA records: Acadia, Allen, Ascension, Assumption, Avoyelles, Bossier, Caddo, Calcasieu, Caldwell, Cameron, Catahoula, Claiborne, Concordia, De Soto, East Baton Rouge, East Carroll, East Feliciana, Franklin, Grant, Iberia, Iberville, Jackson, Jefferson, Jefferson Davis, LaSalle, Lafayette, Lafourche, Lincoln, Livingston, Madison, Morehouse, Natchitoches, Orleans, Ouachita, Pointe Coupee, Rapides, Red River, Richland, Sabine, St. Bernard, St. Helena, St. John the Baptist, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Tensas, Terrebonne, Union, Vermilion, Vernon, Washington, Webster, West Baton Rouge, West Carroll, West Feliciana, Winn.
More Louisiana flowers
Sources
- USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile CLCR.
- iNaturalist, Clematis crispa: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
- Wikipedia, Clematis crispa (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
- USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
- NatureServe Explorer, Clematis crispa (global and state ranks).
- Edibility and toxicity: NC State Extension; ASPCA.
- Photo: Amber M. King via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.