Add lush green foliage and stunning sunset-hued blooms to your garden structure with this easy-to-grow woody vine.
In the garden, crossvine is a favorite food source for hummingbirds and other pollinators.
Pair crossvine with easy-to-grow perennials and shrubs and host your own backyard nectar buffet.
Credit:Denny Schrock
Crossvine also makes a good ground cover in places where it’s crucial that you stabilize sloped terrain.
You want the top edge of the roots to sit at or slightly above ground level.
Set your plant in the hole and fill the hole halfway with soil.
Credit: Brie Williams
Tamp down the soil to remove any air pockets and soak the soil.
Water thoroughly and keep the soil evenly moist, but not wet.
If you are planting more than one crossvine plant, place them at least 6 to 10 feet apart.
Credit: Justin Hancock
Crossvine Care Tips
Crossvine is a low-maintenance climber that bursts with bright blooms each spring and summer.
Light
Crossvine thrives in full sun or part shade.
If grown in shade, it will produce loads of foliage but fewer flowers.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Water your new crossvine regularly during the first season.
Evenly moist (but not soggy) soil will help the vine establish a strong root system.
When exposed to prolonged temperatures above 95 , your crossvine may grow pale, withered, and sunburned.
Credit: Lynn Karlin
Opt for afertilizer designed to encourage flowers, like an NPK 5-10-5 fertilizer.
For the amount to use, follow product label instructions.
Or, if your crossvine becomes overgrown, make more drastic cuts in the fall.
Cut vines back by half or more and thin out crowded or unruly vines to the root collar.
Water thoroughly and keep the soil evenly moist.
If you better repot your crossvine, work carefully and make the move in late winter or early spring.
Soak the soil well and extricate the plant from its container without unraveling the vines from its climbing structure.
Tip the pot on its side and gently coax the pot off the root ball.
Add a layer of fresh potting mix to the new pot and place the plant in the center.
Fill the pot halfway and tamp down the soil to confirm your crossvine is secure.
Simply collect the seeds from the mature seed pods in late summer or early fall.
You will know they are ready when they dry out and turn brown.
With sharp, sterile shears, snip a healthy 6 to 8-inch section that still has several leaves.
Place a plastic bag over the pot to help it retain moisture as it develops new roots.
Place the container in a shady outdoor location and keep the soil evenly moist for several weeks.
It is fast-growing, evergreen, and hardy in Zones 5-9.
It is also a favorite flowering plant among hummingbirds, bees, and other helpful pollinators.
It also features ruby-red trumpet-shape flowers throughout spring and summer in Zones 6-10.
This vine grows vigorously, so it is best suited for strong trellises.
It can climb rapidlysometimes as tall as 20 feet in just one growing season.
It is also reliably evergreen and hardy in zones 6-10.
It grows best in full sun but, like crossvine, will also grow in shadier spots.
Pansy
Prettypansiesare biennials that are oftengrown as annuals(in Zones 3-11).
Pansies prefer well-drained soil, consistent moisture, and a little protection from harsh afternoon sun.
Salvia
Salviadraws in pollinators like hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees.
Weigela
If you are looking for a flowering shrub to pair with your crossvine, considerweigela.
The unfussy shrub grows in Zones 4-9 and requires little care once established.
The foliage colors can range anywhere from green and gold to deep burgundy with a glossy finish.
Frequently Asked Questions
As a native species,Bignonia capreolatais not considered invasive.
It is, however, a vigorous climbing vine that will self-seed and spread if unmanaged.
Crossvine is an excellent alternative to non-native climbers (like English ivy) that are considered invasive.
Depending on the structure, yes.
Crossvine spreads via seed and root suckers.
Those sticky discs may damage some surfaces like brick, stucco, or masonry.
It should also be noted that crossvine is considered highly flammable.
Crossvine is not deer-resistant, but many gardeners claim that it is.
Its desirability seems entirely dependent upon location, season, and the availability of other plant life.
In otherwise lush areas, most gardeners find that deer leave crossvine alone.
North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox- North Carolina State University.
