Bower vine

Sun

Full sun to partial shade; flowering is best with plenty of sun. Choose a position sheltered from cold winds.

Water

Water regularly during establishment and dry summer weather. Established plants tolerate brief dry spells, but flower better with consistent moisture; reduce watering in winter.

Soil

Fertile, well-drained soil, from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline. Avoid waterlogged ground and use a free-draining potting mix in containers.

Height

15-25 ft (4.5-7.5 m)

Spread

6-12 ft (1.8-3.6 m)

Flowers

Late spring to autumn, with the main flush in summer; pale pink to nearly white trumpet flowers with deep pink throats.

Foliage

Glossy green leaves divided into usually five to seven oval leaflets; evergreen in frost-free conditions.

Growth

Fast in warm conditions with adequate water.

Care needed

Medium

• Pollinators
• Heat tolerant
• Wildlife
• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Moderate

Toughness

Fairly tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   2 ft (0.6 m)

2. After 1 year

   3 ft (1.1 m)

3. After 2 years

   5 ft (1.5 m)

4. After 3 years

   6 ft (1.8 m)

   full size

About 3 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Safe

Native to

Australia

Growth rate

Fast

• Provide a sturdy trellis, wires or an arbour, and tie in young stems until they begin twining around the support.
• Water deeply when the upper soil begins to dry; do not leave containers standing in water.
• Apply a balanced, slow-release fertiliser in spring at the label rate; avoid heavy nitrogen feeding.
• Mulch the root area with composted bark or garden compost, keeping it clear of the stem base.
• Move container plants into a bright, frost-free space before cold weather arrives.

Pruning. In early spring, remove dead or frost-damaged growth and shorten overcrowded stems to healthy buds. After the main flower flush, trim long shoots and tie in retained growth to keep the plant within its support.

Early spring

Remove dead growth, thin congested stems and check that supports and ties are secure.

Spring

Feed established plants and refresh the mulch without covering the stem base.

Late spring

Plant outdoors once frost risk has passed; gradually acclimatise overwintered container plants before moving them outside.

Summer

Water during dry spells and guide new shoots along their supports.

Late summer

Trim excessive growth after the main flowering flush and take semi-ripe cuttings.

Autumn

Bring container plants under cover before frost and reduce watering as growth slows.

Winter

Keep sheltered container plants in bright light, with the compost barely moist rather than wet.

• Train over a pergola or entrance arch for overhead foliage and summer flowers.
• Cover a sunny trellis beside a patio, pairing it with agapanthus or society garlic below.
• Use on wires against a sheltered wall to soften masonry without a self-clinging climber.
• Grow in a large container with a permanent support in a courtyard, allowing space to move it under cover in cold climates.

Garden styles it suits: Australian native, Modern courtyard, Mediterranean, Romantic rose garden, Coastal and Modern tropical.

Plant it with: Agapanthus, Society garlic, Lomandra, Dwarf bottlebrush and Star jasmine.

Wildlife: The flowers attract bees and other nectar-feeding insects. Dense growth can provide shelter for small birds.

• Frost damage: leaves and shoots blacken after freezing weather; protect plants before frost and prune damaged stems once spring growth shows what has survived.
• Poor flowering: move container plants into stronger light and avoid excessive nitrogen fertiliser or repeated heavy trimming.
• Root rot in wet soil: improve drainage, reduce watering and never leave the pot standing in a water-filled saucer.
• Spider mites or whitefly under glass: inspect leaf undersides, improve ventilation and treat infestations with an insecticidal soap labelled for the pest and plant.

Not known to be toxic to cats, dogs, horses or people. It is not an edible plant; discourage eating any part, since plant material can still cause stomach upset.

• Wonga wonga vine (Pandorea pandorana)

  Usually has smaller, narrower tubular flowers in larger clusters, often cream with brownish or purple markings, rather than the broad pink trumpets of bower vine.

• Pink trumpet vine (Podranea ricasoliana)

  Has larger clusters of pink, veined trumpets and leaves with more numerous, toothed leaflets; its long stems scramble rather than twine strongly around supports.

• Star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides)

  Has simple, undivided leaves and small, strongly scented white pinwheel flowers, not compound leaves and broad trumpet flowers.

The species name jasminoides means jasmine-like, referring to its resemblance to jasmine.

Propagation. Take semi-ripe cuttings in summer and root them in a free-draining propagation mix with warmth and humidity. Seed can also be sown in warm conditions, but seedlings may differ from named cultivars.

Accepted botanical name

Pandorea jasminoides

Native range

Queensland.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0) and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.