Trumpet vines thrive in full sun

Press, 18 April 1980, Page 10

Trumpet vines thrive in full sun

GARDENING

By

M.Lusty

The trumpet vines from Australia owe their generic name of Pandorea to a rather unfortunate incident. The first Pandorea was discovered on Norfolk Island. A very destructive insect plague which first appeared on the young growth of this vine eventually spread over all the vegetation on the island. Someone recalled that in Greek mythology Pandora was said to have opened a box and thus released from within all the evils which it contained. An similarity was seen in the prevailing circumstances, and so the plants were given the name based on the myth. All pandoreas are glabrous climbers and are fairly rampant growers which can become woody

In time. They have opposite, pinnate leaves with two to- seven or more pairs of leaflets and a terminal leaflet; they are all evergreens. The flowers are in terminal branched inflorescences, trumpet shaped. The fruit is a short pea-like capsule which splits into two hard and leathery boat shaped valves containing a very great number of flattened seeds with transparent, papery wings. The genus was initially classified as Bignonia but this was changed to Pandorea in 1928.

Only two species, of these climbers appear to be grown here in New Zealand: Pandorea pandorana, and P. jasminoides. The former is fair-

ly hardy, suitable for growing in perhaps all but the coldest places; the latter is not quite as resistant to the cold but is still much hardier than thought to be.

Both thrive in full sun, some need protection when young — a frame or stump on which to grow — but otherwise just average conditions and attention are enough. PANDORIEA JASMINOIDES is known by the common names of Bower plant or jasmine-leaved wonga vine. The specific epithet means resembling jasmine, and refers to the similarity of the leaves of these plants. The foliage is notable for its dark glossiness but is dull and paler beneath. The extremely showy

50mm wide trumpet shaped flowers are soft pink deepening to a velvety crimson in the throat of the form “Rosea,” which is the most generally grown. In its native habitats of northern coastal New South Wales and Coastal Queensland, the flower colour of this species tends to vary, depending on the locality in which it is found. The main flush of bloom occurs about mid-summer, but flowers can be seen at any time almost throughout the year and can commence almost before the plants have fully established themselves. P. jasminoides has the distinction of being one of the first Australian plants to be brought into cultivation.

PANDOREA PANDORANA, Wonga vine, was found in Norfolk Island by Colonel Paterson when he was stationed there as governor of the then predominently penal colony. It makes a vigorous and rampant grower, capable of extending for 6m. Considerable variation exists in the wild of this climber which has twining branchlets, not only in the size, shape, and colour of the

flowers but also in the leaves. In local cultivation two colour variations may be found: one has white flowers with purple spots inside the throat of the trumpet; the other is blotchless, creamy-yellow in colour and flowers a little later in the season. The pendant blooms occur in abundance, almost hiding much of the foliage from view; the individual flowers are considerably

smajler than those of P. jasminoides. The Greek myth concerning Pandora is the basis for both the generic and the specific epithet in the case of this particular plant. Plants of both species and the forms related to can be raised from either cuttings or from seed. Some variation in the colour of the flowers may. occur in seedlings.