Young shoots of Korean clematis (Clematis serratifolia) are reportedly occasionally eaten cooked in the Far East, akin to the commonly eaten shoots of old man’s beard / tysk klematis (Clematis vitalba) in Italy. Until last year both were growing next to one another on the eastern side of my house (vitalba died during the winter, now seed propagated and replanted). I’ve never eaten serratifolia as I hadn’t read firsthand accounts of its use. It’s an impressive and valuable plant growing with its roots at the base of the cellar reaching fully 3 stories to the upper balcony outside my bedroom and will eventually clamber onto the roof! It’s autumn flowering and is currently covered in hoverflies, droneflies and bumblebees.






