Crossvine (Bignonia capreolata), sometimes called Bignonia crossvine, is a perennial vine that is happiest scaling walls – up to 50 feet (15 m.) – thanks to its claw-tipped tendrils that grip as it climbs. Its claim to fame comes in springtime with its generous crop of trumpet-shaped flowers in orange and yellow hues. A crossvine plant is a perennial, and in mild climates, an evergreen. Crossvines are robust and vital vines, and care of crossvine plants includes little more than occasional pruning. Read on for more information about Bignonia crossvine care and information about how to grow a crossvine.
| Common name | Crossvine, Cross-Vine, Trumpet Flower |
| Botanical name | Bignonia capreolata |
| Family | Bignoniaceae |
| Species | capreolata |
| Origin | Southern Ontario and Eastern United States |
| Life cycle | Perennial |
| Plant type | Native Plant |
| Hardiness zone | 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 |
| Sunlight | Dappled Sunlight |
| Maintenance | Medium |
| Soil condition | High Organic Matter |
| Soil ph | Neutral |
| Drainage | Well-Drained |
| Growth rate | Fast |
| Spacing | 12 – 24 ft. |
| Harvest time | Summer |
| Flowering period | Spring |
| Height | 3- 50 ft. |
| Width | 3- 50 ft. |
| Flower color | Gold, Yellow |
| Leaf color | Green |
| Fruit color | Brown, Copper |
| Fruit type | Legume |
| Leaf benefit | Showy |
| Flower benefit | Fragrant |
| Garden style | Butterfly Garden |
| Uses | Recreational Play Area |
I. Appearance and Characteristics
Bignonia capreolata is a vine commonly referred to as crossvine. The common name refers to the cross-shaped pattern revealed when the stem is cut; this pattern results from four radial wedges of phloem embedded within the stem’s xylem. It is native to the central and southern United States. The vine climbs without twining but does produce tendrils. It produces long tubular flowers which are red and yellow and frequently have a mocha fragrance.
The leaves are dark green to almost purple and produced as opposite pairs with terminal tendrils. The vine often climbs very high, with leaves only remaining on the uppermost portion of the plant. Crossvine can spread aggressively through stolons and may need to be managed in garden or domestic settings.
There was for some time confusion surrounding the name of this plant, which was apparently sometimes referred to as “Bignonia crucigera”, a name more properly referring to a different plant altogether.
II. How to Grow and Care
Sunlight
Crossvine thrives in full sun or part shade. If grown in shade, it will produce loads of foliage but fewer flowers.
Temperature and Humidity
Crossvine is native to southeastern North America, so it’s no stranger to warm, humid climates—but it thrives in temperatures between 50˚ and 90˚ Fahrenheit. When exposed to prolonged temperatures above 95˚, your crossvine may grow pale, withered, and sunburned. Crossvine is also cold hardy, but if temperatures dip below -10˚, the plant may grow brittle and may not produce new shoots the following spring.
Soil and Water
Crossvine grows easily in medium-moist, organically-rich, well-drained soils, but it can tolerate a wide variety of soils.
Water your new crossvine regularly during the first season. Evenly moist (but not soggy) soil will help the vine establish a strong root system. Once the plant is established, it has low-water requirements and may only need supplemental watering during periods of drought.
Fertilizing
Crossvines do not require fertilization but a light application of granulated fertilizer can encourage denser foliage and enhance blooming—especially in older plants. Opt for a fertilizer designed to encourage flowers, like an NPK 5-10-5 fertilizer. For the amount to use, follow product label instructions.
Planting Instructions
To plant your bignonia crossvine, wait until early fall and dig a hole twice as wide and just as deep as the plant’s root ball. 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. Tamp down the soil to remove any air pockets and soak the soil. Continue filling the hole and tamping down the soil, but do not cover the top of the root ball. 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.
Pruning
Regular pruning is not necessary but will keep your bignonia crossvine healthy, happy, and in bounds. Whenever necessary, trim wayward vines and pull up rogue basal sprouts to keep your plant from spreading to unwanted areas. 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.
Propagation
- How to Propagate Crossvine Via Seed
Crossvine is easy to propagate via seeds. 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. Sow the seeds in containers or directly into the ground in the fall (before the ground freezes) or in the spring after the danger of frost has passed. The seeds do not require extra stratification or special handling (but you should refrigerate them if you don’t plan to plant them right away). Press your seeds 1 to 2 inches into the soil and keep the soil evenly moist as the seeds germinate (typically about 3 to 4 weeks).
- How to Propagate Crossvine Via Cuttings
You can also propagate Bignonia crossvine via cuttings taken from new growth in late spring or early summer. With sharp, sterile shears, snip a healthy 6 to 8-inch section that still has several leaves. Strip the leaves off the bottom and score the tip with a knife or the sharp edge of your shears.
Dip the cut end of the clipping into rooting hormone and plant it 2 inches deep in a prepared container filled with a pre-moistened 1:1:1 mix of peat, perlite, and sand. 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. Once the cutting is established (in early fall) it can be transplanted to the ground or a new container.
Potting and Repotting
To grow crossvine in a container, choose a large container (at least 10 to 12 inches wider than the plant’s root ball) with excellent drainage. Line the bottom of the container with landscape fabric and fill it partway with a high-quality, balanced potting mix. Place your crossvine in the center of the pot and backfill with soil until the plant is secure but the top edge of the roots is still exposed. Water thoroughly and keep the soil evenly moist.
If you need to 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 make sure your crossvine is secure. Continue adding potting mix and tamping until the pot is full but the crown of the root ball is still exposed. Water lightly.
Pests and Diseases
Crossvine may be visited by spider mites and mealybugs in some regions, but otherwise, pests are not an issue. Occasionally, the vine is also pestered by fungal issues like leaf spot, botrytis blight, or black mildew.
III. Uses and Benefits
- Ornamental uses
Crossvine is a popular vine prized for its profusion of drooping flowers. It is commonly used to cover fences, walls, trellises, and arbors, and is an essential part of tropical gardens. Plant it with coneflower, salvia, and Bee Balm for contrasting textures and complimenting colors.
- Medical uses
One 18th century report describes a medicinal use for cross-vine by the Cherokee people:
“The vines or climbing stems of the climber (Bigonia Crucigera) are equally divided longitudinally into four parts by the same number of their membranes somewhat resembling a piece of white tape by which means, when the vine is cut through and divided traversely, it presents to view the likeness of a cross. This membrane is of a sweet, pleasant taste. The country people of Carolina crop these vines to pieces, together with china brier and sassafras roots, and boil them in their beer in the spring, for diet drink, in order to attenuate and purify the blood and juices. It is a principal ingredient in Howard’s famous infusion for curing the yaws, etc., the virtues and use of which he obtained from Indian Doctors.”
In 2012, researchers at Bastyr University published a paper revealing that they had identified the indole alkaloid reserpine in Crossvine.
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