Clematis (Virgin's Bower, Traveller's Joy, Garden Clematis)
Clematis spp. (vitalba et ornementales)
Horse
Moderate
Get veterinary advice the same day and remove access. Low (irritation begins with the first few mouthfuls).
Equio informs, it does not diagnose. When in doubt, call your vet.
What to do now
- Antidote
- No specific antidote. Symptomatic and supportive treatment.
- Time to signs
- A few minutes to a few hours after ingestion.
- Prognosis
- Very good, although convalescence is painful for the animal.
- Rinse the mouth with cool water.
- Apply local anti-inflammatories if necessary.
- Monitor the horse's appetite.
Its ID card
- Height
- 1 m – 10 m+ (as a vine)
- Flowering
- June to September.
- Toxic parts
- Fresh sap, leaves, stems. Like buttercups, it loses most of its toxicity upon drying (hay).
- Toxin
- Vesicant lactone (Protoanemonin) and saponins
- Habitat
- Wild clematis: hedges, woodland edges, bushes. Ornamental clematis: trellises, walls, pergolas.
- Soil indicator
- Forest soils, often calcareous and well-drained.
- Regions
- Entire Europe
- In hay
- Not reported
- Palatability
- Very low (very acrid). Often pulled and ingested by mistake when grazing hedge foliage.
When the risk rises
April to September (sap flow period).
Spotting it in the field
Climbing honeysuckle, Wild hops. — smell : acrid and irritating smell when leaves or stems are crushed.
- Woody climbing vine.
- Stems resemble dry vine shoots.
- Star-shaped flowers (large and colorful in gardens, small and white in wild clusters).
- In winter, fruits form very characteristic fluffy white tufts ('Virgin's hair').
Signs to watch for
Acute toxicity.
Dose : Difficult to determine precisely as toxicity is irritant and not systemically lethal. Ingestion of a few leaves or stems can be enough to cause significant discomfort.
- Thick, stringy, and abundant drooling
- Burns, ulcers, and blisters on lips, tongue, and gums
- Tearing/weeping if contact with eyes
- Mild to severe colic
- Irritative diarrhea
Who is affected
Other species : Irritating to all mammals. Pure sap can cause blisters on human skin (formerly used by beggars to simulate ulcers, hence the name 'herbe aux gueux' - beggar's herb).
In pregnant mares : no specific risk, apart from stress related to pain.
Getting rid of it
Method : Pull up the entire plant, preferably before flowering, wearing gloves to avoid contact with the irritating sap. Dispose of waste safely (burning if possible).
- Inspect pastures and hedge borders to identify and remove clematis.
- Prevent horses from grazing in areas where clematis is abundant.
- Actively manage forest edges to limit its spread into pastures.
Frequently asked questions
Can Equio identify Clematis (Virgin's Bower, Traveller's Joy, Garden Clematis) from a photo?
It can help organize visual clues, but plant identification must remain cautious when horse health is at stake.
Is Clematis (Virgin's Bower, Traveller's Joy, Garden Clematis) dangerous in hay?
Hay risk is not always reported for this entry, but suspicious forage should still be isolated until checked.
This page is informational. If ingestion is likely, if signs appear, or if the horse is fragile, contact a veterinarian immediately.