Vines

A great many vines are available for Zones 9 and 10. Give them plenty of room to grow. You don't want to cut off all the flowers every time you prune the vine. They grow fast. Be prepared to prune frequently.

  Passiflora

   

Passion flower is a rangy vine that needs heavy pruning. Likes full sun. Evergreen in Zones 9 and 10. Perennial in Zone 8. The photo on the right shows the caterpillar of the gulf fritillary butterfly. The butterfly is the same orange color as the Monarch, but it is smaller and has different markings. These caterpillars can devour an entire vine in just a few days if they are numerous enough. Look for the butterfly in October.

     

  Distictis 'Rivers'

   

Distictis is for USDA Zones 9b and 10. This one is Royal Trumpet Vine. Give it regular water in full sun or part shade.

  Distictis buccinatoria

   

This is the Blood Red Trumpet Vine. Bright clusters of 4 inch orange-red flowers with yellow throats. This is a rampant grower that has tendrils that will cling to rough surfaces. Give it plenty of space. Begins blooming in April and May.

  Pandorea

Pandorea jasminoides or Bower Vine has two inch, trumpet shaped flowers in white or pink, often with darker pink throats. Use in Zones 9 and 10 only. Blooms all summer.

  Clytostoma

Clytostoma callistegioides is the Violet Trumpet Vine, another member of the Bignonia family. Hardy to Zone 9; root hardy to Zone 8. Abundant 3 to 4 inch long flowers in April and May.

  Thunbergia

Thunbergia gregorii or Orange Clock Vine is a vigorous grower for Zones 9 and 10. It can be grown as an annual in colder areas.

  Jasminum polyanthum

Because of its profuse production of very fragrant flowers in the spring, Pink Jasmine is widely grown. The flowers are pink on the outside. The vine grows rapidly to 20 feet. Prune hard when the flowers fade. Requires regular watering.

  Solanum

Solanum jasminoides or Potato Vine grows rapidly to 30 feet. It flowers most heavily in spring but has some bloom all year. Sun or part shade. Moderate or restricted water.

  Ipomea

Morning Glory or Ipomea tricolor 'Heavenly Blue' is a summer annual. Tell that to the plant. It's a perennial here on the Central Coast. And it's spectacular.

  Mandevilla 'Alice du Pont'

Mandevilla is a slow growing vine that produces four inch pink flowers from spring to fall. Be sure to direct the growth of this twining vine. It will twine upon itself if neglected. Protect from frost. Does this flower resemble Oleander and Vinca? It should! It's in the same family as those plants -- the Apocynaceae or Dogbane family. Notice the distinctive wrinkled leaves.

  Mandevilla splendens

This is a smaller plant than 'Alice du Pont'. The leaves are smooth and glossy, and the plant is bushier. Train on a trellis or grow in a hanging basket. It is sometimes sold as Displadenia, an older name for the genus.

© 1997 by Jim Clatfelter            Go to Garden California Home Page

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