My DH has finally decided that HE is not going to be able to get around to the patio and arbor we have been talking about for three years so we have a landscape company coming today to discuss plans! WooHoo I'm so excited. So I've always wanted a rangoon creeper but want to make sure it doesn't turn into a nightmare like a trumpet vine I had at my old house. Sent up shoots 10 feet away that I was constantly fighting.
Are there any drawbacks/experiences out there I need to be aware of?
If there are any other climbers I need to consider let me know too.It will be in a full sun location and I'm don't care if it is not evergreen.I'm in 8b north of Houston. Thanks everyone
Rangoon creeper or other suggestions?
All right! I am sure you are excited. A favorite climber of mine is evergreen but the bloom time is short for about one glorious month in springtime. I like the Confederate jasmine. I am sorry but I've no experience in the rangoon creeper. I know some of the girls over on the MidSouth forum grow it. If no one here has an opinion, I'd ask over there too. Good luck.
I have a butterfly vine that behaves itself. It stays green for me, then flowers most of the summer. The only thing I can tell you about the rangoon creeper is that it will take at least three years to bloom after planting. I'm still waiting for mine!
I typed this in 3 times yesterday & keep getting knocked off just as I was sending it so I'm going to try one more time.
Evergreen Wisteria has blackish-purple flowers. Most of the Christus hospitals in Houston put them around their drive-thrus.
Dessert Trumpet (Podranea) has pink flowers with burgandy vines.
Skyflower Vine has blueish purple flower. There is also a white one. They are another Thumbergia.
My RG is showing some signs of life after my neighbor mowed it down last fall when my mower was broke. This is the fourth yr it has been in the ground & I still have yet to see my first bloom.
:~)
This message was edited Apr 2, 2009 11:36 AM
My rangoon creeper has bloomed like crazy for the last 7 years I've had it--it blooms solid from May to first freeze, every year, including the first year it was planted. Rangoon creepers bloom on new wood so you may as well cut it back to almost ground level in March (I cut mine back to 1.5 feet) and let it start over every year for maximum bloom. I never have to fertilize it or anything..I do have it in well draining, lush soil--but that's the same soil that's everywhere here. I mulch it heavily every winter and they need substantial support--mine will easily grow 40' every summer in all directions.
If I were to suddenly be told I could only keep one of my plants--it would be my rangoon creeper. There are no words that adequately describe the scent....it fills the entire back yard every summer for months on end.
This is the second year for my R. Creeper. It is showing new growth from the roots. I also have the Skyflower - it is one of my mistakes. It takes over in MY azelea bed, even though I have pulled as many new vines as I can see. I love the flower, but it needed to be in a place where it could be controlled. you know, isolated, by itself.
Here is another to consider, Coral vine. There's a white one, too. This one shares an archway with a Mermaid rose. This was taken just before Ike.
I'm patient so Rangoon creeper it is. I just wanted to make sure I wouldn't have to fight sprouts of it growing up everywhere like Tumpet vine does. Thanks all!
It does not come up except at its base--its very orderly in that manner. But I can't stress enough what a strong support it needs--full sized during Ike it was like a sail--no damage to the plant itself, but it tore down 6-- 4" x 12' supports cemented 2 feet into the ground. Its a massive plant, make no mistake about that--makes my 40' even older coral vine look like a sweet pea in comparison.