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Pandorea jasminoides Bower Plant, Bower Vine

Edward F. Gilman

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.

Figure 1. Bower plant
Figure 1.  Bower plant

 

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
Figure 2. Shaded area represents potential planting range.
Figure 2.  Shaded area represents potential planting range.

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
Figure 3. Flower of bower plant
Figure 3.  Flower of bower plant

 

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.

Publication #FPS453

Date: 8/27/2015

    RELATED TOPICS

    • Critical Issue: Agricultural and Food Systems
    Organism ID

    About this Publication

    This document is FPS453, one of a series of the Environmental Horticulture Department, UF/IFAS Extension. Original publication date October 1999. 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, Environmental Horticulture Department, UF/IFAS Extension, Gainesville, FL 32611.

    Contacts

    • Gail Hansen de Chapman