My mother's groomer has this vine growing vigorously up a light post. It has very tiny red trumpet shaped flowers on it. The leaves are almost fern like. I pulled two new starts out of the ground and put them in this pot three weeks ago. They are fast growers. What is it?
I suspect it is Cypress vine... a very pretty delicate vine and bloom that will freely reseed.
You are right. I also posted the pic on the plant ID forum and you are all in agreement. Some in Texas consider it too invasive to plant and others just love it. So I will try it and hope for the best.
I don't find it invasive here but I try to harvest the seed pods rather than let them spread. The hummingirds are drawn to it also.
Well, I don't think you are too far from me so maybe they won't be invasive here. I harvest seeds off of just about everything I have. What a savings over buying from a catalog or nursery. Are you going to the East Texas RU in Tyler next month?
No unfortunately I work on Saturdays so no RUs in my future. I know everyone will have a good time tho...
Texasgrower, I think "invasive" is probably in the eye of the beholder. I absolutely love cypress vine. But, I have to tell you, I planted ONE plant--in a pot--ONE year--and then worried about how to get it to come back the next year. I even saved seeds that first year. Boy, was I wrong! 3 years later, I have it EVERYWHERE. I pull up countless seedlings, and still one of my perennial beds starts looking something like a kudzu bed about this time of year. I forget that in June, when seedlings start coming up. In July it's still not much of a bother, and in August I like it because not much else is blooming. By mid-September I'm at the kudzu stage.
EYE don't mind, since I like it. But it can be a fight to keep it from smothering my perennials, and a lot of people would mind that. That's why I said eye of the beholder. I let it grow because it covers the fence and puts out those adorable little red flowers that I love. So for me it's a "good" plant that needs serious vigilance. It's an ipomea (morning glory family--I probably misspelled it) and grows like the wild ones.
As far as wildlife, I have heard that this is a good hummingbird plant, and I'd sure have thought so by looking at it. But my hummers seem to visit other plants. So these days I let it grow for me, not for wildlife.
Could be different for you. It might not be so aggressive in your area.
This message was edited Sep 27, 2008 1:45 AM
There is a white and red version of this plant. The white seems not to be as bad about spreading, or maybe I just have it in a location where the seeds don't sprout as well, but mine has been pretty well behaved.
My "eye" loves anything with color. This vine is so delicate and pretty. I have it in a pot right now and will harvest the seeds to plant next spring. A white one would be pretty too. I'm not sure where I will plant it as I don't want it infiltrating my beds or other containers. I have all winter to ponder it.
I find I am drawn to the bright primary colors too. But I often wish I had a bed of whites for the way they stand out at night.
I have white impatiens and begonias. They do provide contrast.
I love the Cypress vines - have several spots on fences and wall trellis to block the west sun - but I do consider them invasive. They will reseed by the hundreds and you have to be vigilant or they will strangle anything they climb on. Be careful in your choice of planting spots. They will climb 20-30 feet in any direction if you let them. Love watching the Hummingbirds work their way up and down the vine.
Thanks Chuck. I will put great care into where I put the vine. I like it too. Seems everything I have is invasive somehow. I have day lilies I just found out were invasive too. Yeesh.
