Pink trumpet vine

Sun

Full sun for the best flowering; tolerates light shade but flowers less.

Water

Water regularly while establishing. Established plants tolerate short dry spells, but flower better with occasional deep watering during prolonged drought.

Soil

Well-drained soil enriched with compost; tolerates sandy and loamy soils but dislikes waterlogging.

Height

15-30 ft (4.5-9 m), depending on support and pruning

Spread

10-15 ft (3-4.5 m), potentially wider if stems are allowed to root

Flowers

Pale pink trumpet-shaped flowers with deeper pink veins, mainly in summer and autumn; the season can extend in frost-free climates.

Foliage

Evergreen. Opposite, glossy green leaves divided into usually 7-11 pointed leaflets.

Growth

Fast in warm conditions

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

Invasive in

Australia

In the garden

Spreads vigorously: plan to contain it.

Growth rate

Fast

• Provide a strong trellis, pergola or wires, and tie young stems loosely to the support.
• Water deeply during the first growing season, allowing the soil surface to dry between waterings.
• Apply compost and a balanced, slow-release fertiliser in spring; avoid excessive nitrogen, which encourages leafy growth.
• Mulch the root area, keeping mulch clear of the main stems.
• Keep trailing stems off the soil where unwanted rooting would cause problems.
• In cold climates, grow in a large container and move it into bright, frost-free shelter before frost.

Pruning. In late winter or early spring, remove dead, crowded and misplaced stems, then shorten side shoots to keep the plant within its support. In frost-prone gardens, wait until frost danger has passed before removing damaged growth; flowers develop on new growth.

Late winter

Check ties and supports; prune established plants in frost-free gardens.

Spring

After frost danger passes, plant out or return containers outdoors gradually; remove frost-damaged stems.

Spring

Apply compost, a light feed and fresh mulch.

Summer

Tie in new shoots and water deeply during prolonged dry weather.

Summer

Take semi-ripe cuttings and lift any trailing stems that are starting to root.

Autumn

Move container plants under frost-free cover before cold nights arrive.

Winter

Water sheltered container plants sparingly, keeping the compost just moist rather than wet.

• Train over a sturdy pergola to create a loose canopy of foliage and hanging pink flowers.
• Cover wires on a sunny, sheltered wall, leaving room for regular pruning.
• Use on a substantial fence to soften a boundary in a frost-free garden.
• Grow in a large conservatory container with a trellis where outdoor winters are too cold.

Garden styles it suits: Mediterranean, Modern tropical, Romantic rose garden, Modern courtyard, Luxury resort and Pastel border.

Plant it with: Agapanthus, Society garlic, Lavender, Rosemary, African daisy and Salvia.

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

• Frost damage: leaves and young stems blacken after cold nights; protect container plants and wait until spring to cut back damaged wood.
• Poor flowering: too much shade, excessive nitrogen or repeated summer pruning can reduce blooms; provide more sun, feed lightly and do major pruning before new growth starts.
• Aphids and whiteflies, especially under glass: inspect soft growth and leaf undersides, wash off small infestations and use insecticidal soap where needed.
• Root rot in wet soil: improve drainage, avoid standing water beneath pots and let the surface dry slightly between waterings.

Not known to be toxic to people, cats, dogs or horses, but species-specific safety information is limited. It is not an edible plant; discourage chewing or eating any part.

Where it spreads. Can spread aggressively by rooting where stems touch the ground. It is regarded as an environmental weed in parts of Queensland and New South Wales, Australia, and is invasive in parts of New Zealand's North Island; check local guidance before planting.

• Bower vine (Pandorea jasminoides)

  Usually has fewer, smooth-edged leaflets and white or pink flowers with a conspicuous dark pink throat; its stems twine around supports.

• Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans)

  Has orange to red flowers, more strongly toothed leaflets and aerial rootlets that cling to walls or trees; it is deciduous and much more cold-hardy.

Podranea is an anagram of Pandorea, a related genus, while pink trumpet vine describes the flower colour and shape.

Propagation. Take semi-ripe stem cuttings in summer and root them in a free-draining medium with warmth. Layering a low stem also works, but remove unwanted rooted stems promptly.

Accepted botanical name

Podranea ricasoliana

In the US and Canada

Introduced in the lower 48 states and Puerto Rico.

Native range

Cape Provinces, KwaZulu-Natal, Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia.

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