Self-clinging to walls and tree trunks. The vine's flowers are thrilling but ephemeral, whereas the combination of the vine's foliage with the show of the companion plant will last for months. It's also much hardier, to Zone 4 and, unless pruned confidently, can quickly grow into a heavy, mounding, enveloping mass. Some people report an occasional sporadic flowering in the fall, but this isn't common. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 20 years. Shrubs and trees can host a crossvine as long as they are large enough that the vine won't overwhelm them. Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater, This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds. Even in sheltered circumstances—see the second "How to handle it" box, below—my 'Dragon Lady' here in southern New England seems unlikely to explore higher than eight to ten feet. Bignonia honors Jean Paul Bignon, librarian to King Louis XV of France; capreolata refers to the winding tendrils. Perhaps there's a geographic sweet spot mild enough that the vine is fairly easy to establish, but also cool enough that it doesn't become rampant. ", Good Housekeeping Magazine — "Secrets of a Small Garden" — Secrets & How-To's.
As a climbing vine, it tends to be leggy near the base and should be underplanted with low-growing facer plants. Flowering, then, typically doesn't begin until July. See "Plant partners," below.
See "Plant partners" for an introduction. Or there could be a pairing with "regular" trumpet vine, up tall permanent stakes, and the previous year's flowering stems are pruned back to the vertical sheaf of stems each Spring.
Or there could be a pairing with "regular" trumpet vine, Campsis radicans. What about growing it up into a. ? its comparatively well-behaved habit: Although crossvine is closely related to trumpet vine. And I forgot to sniff to verify the character and intensity of the fragrance. its comparatively well-behaved habit: Although crossvine is closely related to trumpet vine, Campsis radicans, it is much less rambunctious. It has dark green foliage. At the cold end of its range—Zones 6 and 5—the foliage is more and more deciduous. Avoid those that are also in flower in Spring: No show could compete with that of the crossvine. ), Where crossvine is more reliably hardy—in Zones 7 and warmer—the vine's versatility can be celebrated. If crossvine is reliably hardy where you're gardening, it might be wisest to let the vine loose only on supporting plants or structures that are not so large they would put the vine's top growth out of reach of any needed pruning. its foliage: each leaf consists of a pair of shiny, smooth-edged, pointed leaflets with a branching tendril between them. ? What about mounding or horizontal conifers, such as. The juniper's tight upright form is maintained by an annual spiral of twine applied each Fall. Trumpet vine is an iconic flower in high Summer. Crossvine is likely to remain full and leafy even as the maturing vine shades its lower portions, The showy flowers at what, for Northerners, at least, will seem a startlingly early season make, My 'Dragon Lady' is successfully colonizing the dense column of growth of my. Over two inches long, they have a torpedo-like thrust that demands attention. Vigor and coverage are much greater where the vine is reliably stem-hardy: in the warmer reaches of Zones 7 through 9. its fast growth: Where growth isn't killed back by severe Winter weather, crossvine is renowned for its ability to cover even large structures. 'Dragon Lady' is reported to be somewhat hardier than either the species or these other cultivars. There's no need to introduce contrasting colors, such as blue or violet, or even bright neutrals, such as white or cream, or even light yellow. Family: Bignoniaceae (big-no-nih-AY-see-ee) Genus: Bignonia (big-NO-nee-uh) Species: capreolata (kap-ree-oh-LAH-tuh) Cultivar: Dragon Lady: Synonym: Doxantha capreolata: Synonym: Anisostichus capreolata: Synonym: Anisostichus crucigera: One vendor has this plant for … its early season of flowering: Campsis flowers at the tips of new stems, which need some time to mature sufficiently to initiate bud formation. My 'Dragon Lady' is successfully colonizing the dense column of growth of my Juniperus communis 'Gold Cone'. These are buds with firepower. On-line and, where solidly hardy, at retailers. Avoid those that are also in flower in Spring: No show could compete with that of the crossvine. A chimney that faces south or west would be ideal. Crossvine ‘Dragon Lady’ Crossvine produces showy salmon red trumpet-shaped flowers in early to mid summer. Copyright Westwood Gardens | All Rights Reserved.
Flowers of 'Tangerine Beauty' have a distinct yellow throat; this cultivar is reported as being repeat-flowering. Choose companions whose foliage is distinctly different in shape, texture, and coloring from the shiny, narrow, and often purple-blushed leaves of the crossvine. Their edges form a Greek cross, which, unlike the Christian one, has all four of its arms the same length. If I were gardening in the bosom of Zone 7, I'd grow 'Dragon Lady' up the trunk of my. , would be a terrific companion to one side or the other. Plants whose standard shape is maintained through pollarding might be the most satisfying choice of all: The same annual massacre to remove the host plant's prior-year growth would, at the same time, also cut off errant crossvine stems. Takes some years before its growth takes off. Purple-leaved smokebush or its tender look-alike. Campsis usually spreads with alarming speed and tenacity via far-reaching underground runners. They would project outward through the, growth, and dangle their sensational flowers in July and August. Much, much less vigorous in Zone 6 and at the colder end of Zone 7, where even stem hardiness is an achievement, let alone flowering. The semi-evergreen dark green foliage turns shades of bronze and purple in fall. Mulch the base of the plant heavily in late Fall, and don't rush to scuffle back the mulch in early Spring, when hard frosts and surprise snow can still occur. At the northern edge of its hardiness range—roughly north of the Ohio and Potomac Rivers—crossvine can be delicate and even tentative. The showy flowers at what, for Northerners, at least, will seem a startlingly early season make Bignonia capreolata tempting, indeed. At the cold end of crossvine's hardiness range, the primary consideration needs to be to increase the chances of stem viability. If flowers were not to be covered by what is usually a lush quantity of new growth, they had better emerge early in the season—which, indeed, is just what they do. Before each retwining, gently loosen the branches (which are vertical and arise from the base of the shrub, not from a central trunk) so they splay outward. One convenient choice would be to let crossvine clothe the trunk of a shrub or tree you grew as a standard. And the vine's shiny, dark, and comparatively large foliage couldn't be a better contrast to the minute non-reflective needles of the juniper. its flowers: Trumpet-vine lookalikes in size, shape, and coloring, any crossvine in bloom is a shock the first time you encounter one: How can a trumpet vine be in flower in Spring? Its growth is also less voluminous and, at least by comparison, seems to hug support structures.