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 (Fig. 1). 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.

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 2)

Planting month for zone 9: year round

Planting month for zone 10 and 11: year round

Origin: not native to North America

Uses: espalier

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

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

Invasive potential: not known to be invasive

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.