🌿 Bignonia Crossvine
Bignonia capreolata
A powerfully vigorous Florida native vine, Crossvine delivers one of the most spectacular flowering performances of any climbing plant in South Florida — covering fences, trellises, arbors, and walls in a breathtaking mass of bold orange-red trumpet-shaped blooms each spring, with the tendrilled stems clinging tightly to any structure and climbing with impressive speed and strength. Heat-tough, drought-tolerant once established, and deeply valuable to hummingbirds and native bees.
🌿 Perennial in South Florida
🌍 Native Origin: Eastern North America, Florida native
☀️ Light: Thrives in full sun to partial shade; produces the most prolific and spectacular spring bloom display with 4 or more hours of direct sunlight daily — also performs very well in partially shaded spots under high canopy trees, where it will climb vigorously toward available light and bloom abundantly on sun-exposed stems.
💧 Water: Low to moderate water needs with excellent drought tolerance once established; water regularly after planting to encourage deep, strong root development, then reduce significantly — mature Crossvine plants handle South Florida's dry winter season very well and require minimal supplemental irrigation once fully established in the landscape.
📏 Size: A vigorous climber reaching 30–50 feet with strong, tendrilled stems that grip tightly to fences, trellises, brick, wood, and wire structures without damaging support surfaces; responds well to pruning after the spring bloom flush to control size, shape the vine, and encourage the best display for the following season.
🌸 Bloom Time: Peaks in spring with a breathtaking mass display of bold orange-red trumpet-shaped blooms that completely cover the vine — one of the most dramatic spring flowering performances available in a South Florida garden; may produce sporadic additional bloom flushes through the warmer months in Miami's consistently warm climate.
🌱 Landscape Use: Outstanding on fences, privacy screens, trellises, arbors, pergolas, and walls; excellent for rapidly covering chain-link fences or creating a stunning vertical color display; a valuable Florida-Friendly and native plant choice that supports hummingbirds and native bee populations throughout South Florida.
💡 Casaplanta Tip: Plant in Coast of Maine Bar Harbor Blend for rich, well-draining soil that supports the vigorous climbing growth Crossvine demands, and feed every 4–6 weeks with Espoma Flower Tone to fuel strong vine growth and the most spectacular bold orange-red spring trumpet bloom display on your South Florida fence, trellis, or arbor.