Podranea ricasoliana
(Pro - nun - see - ashun )
At-A-Glance Information
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This species, also called Pink Trumpet Vine, is evergreen and grows best in zones 9, 12, 13, 19-24, H1 and H2 (to find your zone, click here: Zone Map). They enjoy being planted in full sun to partial shade and need moderate to regular water. They are is native to South America and reach 20 feet, with dark green, glossy foliage. Flowers are pink and veined with red, blooming in clusters in spring and summer at the tips of new growth. It grows more slowly when young, but once established will grow more quickly. This is a great candidate for growing ion trellises and arbors, posts, walls, or even the trunks of high-branching trees.
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Caring for Podranea
Grow these vines in full sun; they should ideally be receiving between 6 and 8 hours of direct light each day, and will flower and produce the best foliage the more sun they get. Some afternoon protection from sun is needed in particularly hot areas to avoid over-stressing the plant or foliage sunburn. They also need some good protection from frosts, which can kill them to the ground. However, as long as the soil does not freeze (mulching can help this), they will regrow the following springtime. They prefer well-draining soil with a pH of between 6.0 and 7.0. If local soils are compacted, do not drain well, or are particularly poor in nutrients, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic matter or compost before installing. Apply a thick layer of mulch around the base of the plant after installation, ensuring that mulch stays at least a few inches away from the stems. This will increase soil moisture retention, suppress weed growth, and maintain a constant soil temperature.
Keep the soil moist while plants establish a strong root system; mature plants are considered somewhat drought-tolerant, but they do appreciate consistent moisture during the growth and flowering season. Foliage can be trimmed back at any time of the year to control growth and remove dead, damaged and diseased stems and leaves. Doing so will keep the plant at its healthiest form. Pinch young plants to encourage a bushy habit to form. Fertilize Clematis plants yearly for the best show of blooms with a dressing of organic compost applied around the base of the vine. Work the compost into the soil a bit, and then replace the mulch around the base.
Keep the soil moist while plants establish a strong root system; mature plants are considered somewhat drought-tolerant, but they do appreciate consistent moisture during the growth and flowering season. Foliage can be trimmed back at any time of the year to control growth and remove dead, damaged and diseased stems and leaves. Doing so will keep the plant at its healthiest form. Pinch young plants to encourage a bushy habit to form. Fertilize Clematis plants yearly for the best show of blooms with a dressing of organic compost applied around the base of the vine. Work the compost into the soil a bit, and then replace the mulch around the base.
Propagation
Although these vines can be propagated through cuttings as well as via seed, propagation by cutting is so simple and straightforward (and successful) that cutting is a better option in most cases. To propagate your Podranea, follow the instructions below:
Propagating Podranea by Cutting
Propagating Podranea by Cutting
- Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand.
- In spring or early summertime, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Cut one or more 6 inch portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip the leaves off of the lower half. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
- Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in warm, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about four to six weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth, you'll know you have roots.
- Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new shrub.
Problems and Pests
These plants are generally free of pest and disease issues. For commonly encountered pests and diseases in the home garden, consult the following links:
Gallery
These shrubby vining plants can do well as privacy screening.
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These vines can get quite large.
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Podranea vines are used to add foliage and flowers in many situations.
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Videos
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Podranea vine review.
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Learn about these flowering beauties.
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How to care for these flowering vines.
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Resources
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Page 521, Podranea ricasoliana
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