Crossvine Plants

Characteristics

• Crossvines thrive in warm, humid climates. The 30- to 50-foot vines produce an abundance of copper-colored, trumpet-shaped blossoms that open each spring, filling the garden with color and fragrance for up to four weeks at a time. The glossy, oval-shaped leaves are evergreen to semi-evergreen, depending on the climate; in response to cold weather, the dark green foliage takes on purplish-red tone before dropping off the vine. Crossvines are heat-loving perennials. While they can be used in gardens north of he Mason-Dixon line, they may have to be replanted each year as routine exposure to hard frosts can kill the roots.

Cultivation

• Crossvines are not commonly found in small, commercial garden centers; however, the plants can be easily cultivated by taking root cuttings from healthy, mature plants in the early summer. Install the cuttings immediately, leaving at least 2 feet of space between plants. Crossvine grows well in either sun or shade, but it blooms best in sites that allow the vine to receive at least four hours of sunlight each day.

Use

• The tendrils of the crossvine are equipped with adhesive disks that will adhere to almost any surface, making the it an excellent choice for training up walls, fences, arbors, trees or trellises. Additionally, the brightly colored, bell-shaped blossoms attract both hummingbirds and butterflies, making the crossvine a welcome member of a wildlife garden.

Warning

• Clinging vines, such as the crossvine, must be cultivated with care as their vigorous growth patterns can turn them from decorative, welcome additions to the landscape to smothering, house-choking pests. While crossvine is not known for being invasive or aggressive, it should be pruned at least once a year to keep unwanted growth under control.