Bignonia
( big - NOH - nee - uh )
At-A-Glance InformationAlso known as Crossvine or Trumpet Vine, this vine can be evergreen or semi-evergreen, depending on the zone it is grown in. It is native to the Southern United States and its trailing stems can reach 60 feet long. Flowers bloom in the middle of springtime, and the leaves will turn purple in cold weather, giving this vine almost year-round interest. These vines are perfect for cloaking trellises and entry gates, and are also good for training over arbors. Unsupported, they can also become great, sprawling groundcover plants.
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Bignonia species and Varietals
Bignonia includes just under 30 distinct species and is the type species member of the plant family Bignoniaceae. The genus Bignonia once included many vines with trumpet-shaped flowers, many of which have been moved now to other genuses, including Campsis, Cytostoma, Distictis, Macfadyena, and Pyrostegia. Crossvine grows best in zones 4-9 and 14-24. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.
Bignonia callistegioides (Violet Trumpet Vine, Lavender Trumpet Vine) This vining beauty is native to southern Brazil and Argentina, and is a woody evergreen perennial vine. Leaves, stems, and tendrils are green and lavender to lilac flowers bloom from spring through summertime. Flowers feature a white to yellow throat and violet veining. These plants are both heat-loving and frost-tolerant, and is commonly grown as an ornamental plant for growing on trellises and arbors or as a groundcover. |
Bignonia capreolata (Crossvine)
This species of vining plants gets is name from the fact that the stems when cut hold the shape of a cross, due to the makeup of their phloem and xylem channels. Flowers range in color depending on the species, but are mostly in the pink-red-orange-yellow hues. Leaves are dark green to almost purple in some varieties, and have the tendency to be most populous in the newer regions of the vine, commonly leaving the older parts of the plant looking a bit bare. This species is an aggressive spreader, and may need some curbing to keep in line. Popularly grown varieties are listed and described below:
Bignonia magnifica (Saritaea magnifica) (Glowvine) This species has been transferred in and out of the genus Bignonia due to its unique physical characteristics, and is native to Panama and northern South America. Stems are almost round in cross-section, and leaves are evergreen. Blooms pop in spring and summertime, and are generally purple to magenta in color with white/yellow throats that have violet veining. |
Caring for Bignonia capreolata
Before spring growth begins, complete any pruning that you want to do to shape or control the size of this vigorous vine. They can spread aggressively by stolons.
Propagation
Problems and Pests
Gallery
Videos
A video all about growing camellias successfully
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Propagating camellias
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Resources
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Page 196, Bignonia capreolata
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