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Pandorea jasminoides Bower Plant, Bower Vine

Edward F. Gilman, Ryan W. Klein, and Gail Hansen

Introduction

Rapidly growing bower plant has slender, twining stems, glossy dark green foliage, and 2-inch-wide, white, pink-throated flowers which appear in summer, fall, and winter. Peak flower production occurs in mid-summer. Bower plant is evergreen and can be used to cover fences, arbors, and other structures. It can cover a 15-foot-tall arbor in one or two growing seasons. It does not grow to be a particularly dense vine; instead, it maintains an open, fine-textured effect.

Full Form - Pandorea jasminoides: Bower plant, bower vine.
Figure 1. Full Form - Pandorea jasminoides: Bower plant, bower vine.
Credit: Edward F. Gilman, UF/IFAS

 

Full Form - Pandorea jasminoides: Bower plant, bower vine.
Figure 2. Leaf - Pandorea jasminoides: Bower plant, bower vine.
Credit: Edward F. Gilman, UF/IFAS

 

Full Form - Pandorea jasminoides: Bower plant, bower vine.
Figure 3. Flower - Pandorea jasminoides: Bower plant, bower vine.
Credit: Edward F. Gilman, UF/IFAS

General Information

Scientific name: Pandorea jasminoides

Pronunciation: pan-DOR-ree-uh jaz-min-NOY-deez

Common name(s): bower plant, bower vine

Family: Bignoniaceae

Plant type: vine

USDA hardiness zones: 9B through 11 (Figure 4)

Planting month for zone 9: year-round

Planting month for zone 10 and 11: year-round

Origin: not native to North America

Invasive potential: not known to be invasive

Uses: espalier

Availability: somewhat available, may have to go out of the region to find the plant

Shaded area represents potential planting range.
Figure 4. Shaded area represents potential planting range.
Credit:

Description

Height: depends upon supporting structure

Spread: depends upon supporting structure

Plant habit: spreading

Plant density: dense

Growth rate: fast

Texture: fine

Foliage

Leaf arrangement: opposite/subopposite

Leaf type: odd-pinnately compound

Leaf margin: undulate

Leaf shape: ovate

Leaf venation: pinnate

Leaf type and persistence: evergreen

Leaf blade length: 2 to 4 inches

Leaf color: green

Fall color: no fall color change

Fall characteristic: not showy

Flower

Flower color: pink

Flower characteristic: flowers periodically throughout the year

Fruit

Fruit shape: elongated

Fruit length: 1 to 3 inches

Fruit cover: dry or hard

Fruit color: brown

Fruit characteristic: inconspicuous and not showy

Trunk and Branches

Trunk/bark/branches: usually with one stem/trunk

Current year stem/twig color: brown

Current year stem/twig thickness: medium

Culture

Light requirement: plant grows in part shade/part sun

Soil tolerances: slightly alkaline; clay; sand; acidic; loam

Drought tolerance: moderate

Soil salt tolerances: poor

Plant spacing: 36 to 60 inches

Other

Roots: not applicable

Winter interest: no special winter interest

Outstanding plant: not particularly outstanding

Pest resistance: no serious pests are normally seen on the plant

Use and Management

Bower plant requires full sun and fertile, rich soil with ample moisture. Protection from strong winds is recommended. The plant can be successfully grown in the warmest parts of hardiness zone 9 in many years. Flowers are quickly produced from young plants which are damaged from a light freeze.

The cultivar 'Alba' has white-lipped flowers; 'Purpurea' produces pink-lipped flowers; and 'Rosea' has pink flowers with rose pink throats.

Propagation is by seed or softwood cuttings.

Pests and Diseases

No pests or diseases are of major concern.

Publication #FPS453

Release Date:February 6, 2024

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  • Critical Issue: Agricultural and Food Systems
Organism ID

About this Publication

This document is FPS453, one of a series of the Department of Environmental Horticulture, UF/IFAS Extension. Original publication date October 1999. Revised October 2023. Visit the EDIS website at https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu for the currently supported version of this publication.

About the Authors

Edward F. Gilman, professor emeritus; Ryan W. Klein, assistant professor, arboriculture; and Gail Hansen, professor, sustainable landscape design; Department of Environmental Horticulture, UF/IFAS Extension, Gainesville, FL 32611.

Contacts

  • Gail Hansen de Chapman
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