The Crossvine, Bignonia capreolata, is a vigorous, woody vine native to the southeastern and south-central United States. This fast-growing plant is prized for its abundant display of showy, trumpet-shaped flowers that appear in early spring, often before other vines begin to bloom. Its common name is derived from the distinct cross-shaped pattern visible in a cross-section of the stem. As a semi-evergreen perennial, it provides year-round foliage and is an excellent native alternative to potentially invasive non-native climbers.
Essential Growing Requirements
Crossvine performs best and produces the most abundant bloom in full sunlight, though it is highly adaptable and tolerates partial shade. In shadier locations, the vine will still grow well, but flowering will be noticeably reduced. The plant is reliably hardy across USDA Zones 6 through 9, but it can survive in Zone 5, where stems may die back in severe winters, returning from the root system the following spring.
The vine thrives in average, well-drained soils, preferring a near-neutral pH range of 6.8 to 7.2. It is adaptable and can be grown successfully in everything from sandy loam to clay, provided the soil does not remain waterlogged. While establishing its root system, the plant requires consistent moisture, but once mature, Bignonia capreolata tolerates drought conditions.
In colder regions, the glossy, dark green foliage often takes on a reddish-purple or bronze hue during the winter months. It retains some leaves throughout the year in milder climates. To ensure robust establishment, gardeners should avoid planting in areas with intense, prolonged sun exposure that could lead to leaf scorch, especially in the warmest regions.
Distinguishing Popular Cultivars
Selecting a cultivar allows gardeners to fine-tune the vine’s color, size, and vigor to suit a garden space. ‘Tangerine Beauty’ is perhaps the most widely recognized variety, celebrated for its prolific flowering habit. Its trumpet-shaped blossoms display a red-orange exterior that transitions to a bright yellow-orange throat. This cultivar is known for its vigor, commonly reaching lengths of 30 feet in cultivation.
For gardeners seeking a more deeply colored flower, the cultivar ‘Atrosanguinea’ features rich, dark purplish-red to burgundy blooms. This variety tends to be slightly less aggressive than the species, maturing between 15 to 30 feet, making it more manageable for smaller structures. Another popular selection, ‘Dragon Lady,’ is noted for its striking ruby-red flowers that feature a yellow coloring in the throat.
‘Dragon Lady’ maintains dark green foliage throughout the summer, which turns bronze and purple in the autumn. Conversely, the variety ‘Jekyll’ is sought out not just for its bright orange flowers, but for the highly fragrant, almost mocha-like scent they emit. ‘Jekyll’ is noted for its rapid climbing ability, sometimes covering up to 20 feet in a single growing season.
Landscape Applications and Support
Crossvine is valued for its versatility as a vertical element and its ability to rapidly cover large surfaces. It is an ideal choice for disguising fences or adding height and color to arbors and pergolas. The vine climbs using specialized branched tendrils equipped with adhesive disks, or holdfasts, at their tips. This mechanism allows the vine to cling firmly to flat surfaces like stone, brick, or masonry without requiring external support.
The aggressive climbing habit necessitates regular attention to keep the vine within its designated boundaries. Pruning is best performed immediately after the spring bloom has finished, as the vine typically flowers on the previous season’s wood. Removing wayward stems and thinning out crowded growth encourages better air circulation and subsequent development of new flowering shoots for the next season.
Crossvine can also be utilized as a dense ground cover for slopes or large, open areas where turf grass struggles. When used in this manner, it provides a semi-evergreen carpet that suppresses weeds and helps stabilize the soil. Gardeners should monitor for and remove root suckers that emerge near the base of the plant to prevent the vine from spreading aggressively into surrounding garden beds.