Travaller’s Joy (Clematis vitalba)



It is a shrub plant belonging to the Ranunculaceae family with a holoarctic distribution and known by its common name of Traveller’s Joy.
It is present in the whole of Italy reaching heights of 1300 metres in uncultivated areas, broad-leaved woods and temperate shrublands.
It is a climbing shrub with branched stems which grow as long as 10-15 metres up the trees developing rather large woody trunks at the base.
Its fragrance is similar to that of the Hawthorn.
It blossoms between May and August depending on the altitude.
It is a poisonous plant due to the presence of alkaloids and saponins, substances which are also present in other genera of the family and which accumulate particularly in older organs.
Its spring shoots are used in cooking to make omelettes.
Due to the toxins common to the Ranunculaceae family it is not advisable to eat large quantities of the plant.
It is essential to use only the young parts of the Clematis in which the concentration of toxic substances is extremely low.