Travellers joy Seeds  clematis vitalba – is a rambling shrub of hedgerows that is a familiar to many as old man’s beard and can be grown in sun or shade. This name comes from the white fluffy seeds that are at their most obvious in mid winter. Less familiar are the creamy white flowers that appear mainly in July. Traveller’s joy grows particularly well on light soils containing chalk or lime where it will sometimes form a low-growing shrub within grassland. In gardens, Traveller’s joy can be grown in a wild hedgerow or over a wall to provide winter interest and colour. In summer the flowers will attract insects such as bees and hoverflies. Alternative names for Traveller’s joy include Old man’s beard and Wild Clematis.