Gardening in the Coastal Southeast
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The Genus Clytostoma
Family Bignoniaceae

This is a small genus of tropical woody vines from South America. One species (C. callistegioides) is cultivated in warm gardens for its abundance of large purple flowers in late winter. 

The Bignoniaceae family contains shrubs, vines and trees that range around the world. It includes trumpet creeper (Campsis,) catalpa (Catalpa,) jacaranda (Jacaranda,) trumpet tree (Tabebuia) and yellow elder (Tecoma.)


Clytostoma callistegioides

Picture
Clytostoma callistegioides
painted trumpet vine 

This is a vigorous woody vine that climbs with tendrils. Its evergreen leaves are similar to those of the cross vine (Bignonia.) Its purple flowers are large and showy. Reportedly, it is drought tolerant. It is recommended for zones 8 and south.

This plant is available in specialty catalogs. This plant may be propagated by seeds or summer cuttings.

I have seen beautiful specimens in middle zone 9A gardens and in Savannah, Georgia. The plant in my northern zone 9a garden has grown very slowly in an unirrigated spot. New leaves and flowers appear in early April. It is evergreen but experiences considerable foliage burn when winter temperatures drop into the low 20's F. Stems are killed back to the ground when winter temperatures drop into the upper teens F. 

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