Description
Form:
An herbaceous, twining vine.
Lifespan:
Perennial.
Leaf retention:
Deciduous.
Growth rate:
Rapid.
Mature Size:
6-10' long.
Flowers:
Blue, purple, red or pink, tubular with two upper lobes and three lower lobes. The flowers
have spotted stripes inside a white throat, are 3/4" long, and occur singularly at leaf
nodes.
Bloom:
Mid-spring to mid-fall.
Fruit:
Dried round seed capsule.
Leaves:
Green, smooth, vaguely triangular or arrowhead-shaped, up to 1" long.
Stems:
Herbaceous, green, thin, smooth, no thorns.
Roots:
Non-invasive.
Wildlife:
The flowers attract pollinating insects, possibly hummingbirds, and the plant hosts the
Common Buckeye butterfly caterpillar.
Toxic / Danger:
No.
Origin:
California to Texas, Florida and Mexico.
Cultivation and Uses
USDA hardiness zones:
8b-10. This plant can recover from its roots at 15°F or above.
Heat tolerant:
Part shade is needed in high temperatures.
Drought tolerant:
Two weeks maximum.
Sun:
Full sun to part shade.
Planting:
Locate this desert plant on a fence or trellis in part shade. Mulch the root area.
Soil:
This plant needs a well drained location, but is tolerant of soil types otherwise. It
performs better with some organic material present, and pH 6.0-7.8 (slightly acidic to
slightly alkaline).
Water after becoming established:
This plant displays best with irrigation once a week but may tolerate once every two weeks.
Mulch:
The root area should be protected from winter freezes and summer heat with an organic mulch.
Prune:
Removing green seed capsules may increase blooms. Remove dead vines and leaves as needed.
Litter:
Dead vines, leaves, and seed capsules in fall or during drought.
Propagation:
Seed.
Uses:
A delicate-appearing ornamental for close viewing.
Comments
This plant is awaiting taxonomic reevaluation. It has been variously assigned to the
Figwort (Scrophulariaceae) and plantain (Plantaginaceae) families.
The most common scientific synonym is Maurandya antirrhiniflora.
Do you have additional information or a different experience for this plant that you would
like to share? Email info@GardenOracle.com. All contributions are welcome and appreciated.
