Around Venice there are a lot of fences and a lot of vines on fences. Bougainvilliea reigns supreme as the local vine of choice, however with its thorny branches and the energy it takes to hack them back, we're thinking we prefer the trumpet vine:
In the Trumpet Vine's favor: In southern California it grows easily, is resistant to mildew and has a beautiful shape. It can live in full sun in rich soil, cascading down a wall or fence with bright coral trumpet-shaped flowers. But working against it: it can get overgrown and act like a weed becoming invasive and territorial.
We still vote for it, since we had both a trumpet vine and a Bougainvilliea growing on the same fence and the trumpet vine was much easier to maintain. If you're into a trumpet vine keep in mind that you can grow one from a cutting.
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Comments (9)
Thanks for this post! I've been looking for a name for that vine. It grows well here in San Francisco. We will soon have a new trellis to plant it on.
It's so funny that you posted this today, because on the way back from lunch yesterday 3 of my co-workers and I were talking about how Trumpet Vine verges on being a weed here in Richmond, VA. It grows wild along the highways and so many people consider it a weed, but I think it's beautiful! Having said that, I also like Honeysuckle vines.
I would prefer anything BUT bougainvilliea! It is so messy and I don't like the magenta flowers. There are so many other beautiful choices: roses,morninglories, honeysuckle, jasmine.....
The condos next to me have this and it's flowing into our walkway. Very pretty! Glad I know what it is now.
Superba Ave
A warning to Florida gardeners (and others): Trumpet vines are a lovely plant. However, they have a frequently mislabeled look-alike --mandavilla--that are delicious to oleander caterpillars. Once the polka-dot wasp moths start laying eggs, and the caterpillars emerge, they can devour a three gallon plant with numerous runners in mere days.
There are pesticides that will kill the beasts, but if like me you are organic, there is little hope other than daily caterpillar removal --by hand. Neither neem nor soap has any effect.
As for trumpet vine, I recommend planting it in a large pipe round or a 5 gallon bucket with the bottom removed to keep the plant more contained. Avoid planting too close to wood sided houses or trees.
California has oleander plants, but has been spared wasp moths. Never import oleander from Florida or the Caribbean. Trust me, you don't want the technicolor little beasties that look straight out of an Eric Carle book.
my favorite vines are jasmine and wisteria. :)
don't hate on Bougainvilliea's!
In South texas Bougainvilliea, oleanders, and flumbago(spelling?) are the most common along fences and yards.
msbeachwood- they come in over 3 colors
purple, pink(looks like a coral pink), white, magenta and an apricot color. I have all of them!
AT does this vine have thorns on it?
The reason I like Bougainvilliea so much is because of the thorns. We have them growing all along our backyard fence for some protection sadly tho the one spot they weren't growing (right on the door) some punks jumped the fence and stole my dads weed eater... and my neighbors!
witchbaby, my recollection from trimming them is that they don't have thorns...