Where Can You Plant Queen's Wreath?

Description

• A queen's wreath vine puts on a show in the late summer through fall with its drooping clusters of bright pink, white or red flowers. The flowers do not produce fleshy fruit, but transform into brown, papery capsules each containing a single seed. When not in bloom, queen's wreath adds charm to the landscape with its heart-shaped leaves. Individual leaves appear light to medium green in color and sport branching veins across their surfaces. This fast-growing perennial vine reaches lengths up to 30 to 40 feet under ideal growing conditions.

Climate

• Due to its tropical nature, queen's wreath grows only in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 8 through 11. Considered a semi-evergreen plant, it retains its foliage year round in USDA zones 9 through 11 and drops its leaves in zone 8. If exposed to temperatures of 32 degrees Fahrenheit, the terminal ends of the queen's wreath vine will freeze and die. A temperature of 25 degrees Fahrenheit or lower will kill the vine's stems completely, but they will regrow the next season as long as the roots do not experience temperatures lower than 10 to 15 degrees Fahrenheit.

Culture

• Although queen's wreath will grow in full to partial sunlight, full sunlight promotes abundant blooms and longer, thicker stems. Any type of soil will do for the queen's wreath, as long as it provides fast drainage and a pH just above 7.0. This vine tolerates drought, but grows best when it receives 1 inch of water per week.

Support

• In order to climb, the queen's wreath requires a support structure for its curling tendrils to wrap around. Locating the vine next to an arbor, trellis, fence, pergola or garden arch, encourages its stems to creep upward. With the plant's quick growth rate, the structure will disappear behind twining vines and 2- to-4-inch long leaves. Queen's wreath looks especially attractive when growing over structures with a roof or ceiling, as its flowers will hang downward, creating a canopy of color.