Thunbergia Species, Clock Vine, Brick & Butter Vine

A very tender tropical climber, slow to establish. Can tolerate light frost if kept dry, but prefers temperatures above 50F/ 10C. In cool...Read Moreer conditions it becomes deciduous. Requires high air humidity (80%) to thrive. Once established it grows much faster and becomes enormous. Blooming can last for months . It is considered one of the most beautiful and showy climbers in the world, together with Strongylodon macrobotrys and Mucuna bennettii. Best grown on a pergola that will allow the hanging blooms to droop. Foliage looks similar to Thunbergia grandiflora and Thunbergia coccinea, but is much less vigorous in the first years.

I'm growing this plant in coastal Freeport TX in a protected greenhouse. It originally was planted outdoors, and bloomed sparsely if we h...Read Moread a warm winter (above 36 degrees.) I built the greenhouse around the established plant and it flourished. It needs slightly warmer winter temperatures, say around 45 degrees to really be happy. I'm sure warmer would be even better. This is it's second year of heavy bloom and I'd say it has over 50 trailing blooms. As each bloom drops, it leaves a large pea shaped orb. I don't know if it is it's seed. I'd be interested to know and may try planting some to verify.

I have not grown this plant. It is a native plant of India.

Very easy to propagate in water.