Rosa Montana Vine

Location

• A native of Mexico, rose of Montana may be grown in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 8 to 11. The University of Arizona Pima County Extension comments that tip damage occurs at about 32 degrees Fahrenheit, with the plant dying down to the ground in the mid- to low 20s. Vines in USDA zone 8 will generally die down to the ground in the winter and grow back in the spring. Flowering is best in a bright, sunny location.

Culture

• Rose of Montana is tolerant of most soil types, though it will look its best in a well draining, fertile garden soil. Water at least once a week during the growing season to encourage fast growth. A thick layer of mulch, applied before late fall frosts, will help the roots to survive the winters in USDA zone 8. The vine is not prone to any serious pests or diseases according to the Missouri Botanical Garden, although caterpillars may cause some foliage damage.

Maintenance

• To really get flowers going, fertilize annually in early spring with 1 or 2 pounds of a balanced 10-6-4 or 10-10-10 fertilizer, covering 100 square feet around the stem. Keep fertilizer about a foot away from the stem. If rose of Montana is being grown next to a well-fertilized lawn, additional fertilizer is probably not necessary according to the University of Connecticut Extension. In USDA zone 8, clean up frozen foliage to keep the garden looking tidy.

Features

• Rose of Montana makes a low maintenance vine for a trellis, arbor or fence. Where borderline hardy, it may be grown as an annual or as a container plant in a warm greenhouse. It is highly attractive to butterflies and birds. According to Floridata, the vine's tubers are edible and are eaten in Mexico. The vine is listed as a Category II invasive species by the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council and should probably not be grown outdoors in Florida.