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By Henrik Thiil Nielsen, 2015-07-26. Revised by … The most common popular names for clematis vitalba are probably 'traveller's joy' and 'old man's beard', but according to the author R.M. Gilchrist, writing in 1913, the plant was also known as 'Robin Hood's feather' in several counties. Gilchrist, Robert Murray 1913a, p. 24. I am not aware if this name is still in use. The plant is a climbing shrub with branched, grooved stems, deciduous leaves and scented white-green flowers with fluffy underlying sepals. A native plant in the UK, it is common throughout England south of a line from the Mersey to the Humber as well as in the south, east and north of Wales. It is widely planted outside its natural range and may be found as far north as the southern … to imagine that it may have reminded someone of an old man's beard. The plant in fruit is obviously suggestive of feathers. Wikipedia: …