Scientific Name
Thunbergia grandiflora (Roxb. ex Rottl.) Roxb
Common Name(s)
Blue Sky Flower, Bengal Clockvine, Bengal Trumpet, Blue Thunbergia, Blue Trumpetvine, Clockvine, Skyflower, Skyvine
Synonym(s)
Flemingia grandiflora, Pleuremidis grandiflora, Thunbergia adenophora, Thunbergia chinensis, Thunbergia cordifolia, Thunbergia lacei
Scientific Classification
Family: Acanthaceae
Subfamily: Thunbergioideae
Section: Thunbergia
Origin
Thunbergia grandiflora is native to China, India, Nepal, Indochina, and Burma and is widely naturalized elsewhere.
Flower
Color: Pale blue
Bloom Time: Midsummer to late fall
Description
Thunbergia grandiflora is a vigorous evergreen vine with thick tuberous roots from which emerge rope-like stems, holding dark green leaves with a slightly toothed margin. Leaves are up to 5 inches (12.5 cm) long.
The beautiful flowers are cup-like, pale blue with pale yellow to cream blue striped center, and appear from mid-summer to late fall.
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zone 8a to 11b: from 10 °F (−12.2 °C) to 50 °F (+10 °C).
How to Grow and Care
Plant Thunbergia seedlings outdoors after all frost danger passes, or start your own seeds indoors six weeks before the last expected frost. With proper care, the vines remain in bloom from midsummer until fall frost.
Spread 2 inches (5 cm) of compost over a well-drained garden bed that receives full morning sunlight and light afternoon shade. Site the bed near a trellis, fence, or similar 5 to 8 foot (1.5 to 3.4 m) tall support. Work the compost into the top 8 inches (20 cm) of soil.
Plant the seedlings along the base of the support. Space the plants 12 inches (30 cm) apart. Plant the seedlings at the same depth they were growing at previously.
Water Thunbergia deeply once a week, providing approximately 1 inch (2.5 cm) of water during irrigation or enough to keep the top 6 inches (15 cm) of soil evenly moist. The plants require less irrigation during rainy weather, and they may require twice weekly irrigation during times of dry, hot weather.
See more at How to Grow and Care for Thunbergia.
Cultivars
Links
- Back to genus Thunbergia
- Plantpedia: Browse flowering plants by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, or Origin
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