Planting DesignDiscover the right plants for your garden.
Tangerine Slice A - Peel ® pitch-black - eyed Susan vine . ( Thunbergia alata ) . Photo by Proven Winners .
It ’s always tremendous to discover a works that can solve a battalion of garden challenges while look gorgeous at the same prison term . If you ’re not yet familiar with shameful - eyed Susan vine ( Thunbergia alata ) , it ’s meter to learn how this various tropical bloom can work wonders in your garden .
In smaller yards , this tight - develop attendant perennial is a capital infinite - saver because it enthusiastically twines up treillage , fences , pergola , and other supports to take advantage of underutilized vertical place . require to quickly fulfil in naked spots in your garden ? countenance disastrous - eyed Susan vine to drift unsupported along the ground to create a lovely floral carpet .

If container horticulture is your love , this cheerful dark - eyed boner can function as both a thriller and trawl line ingredient in pots or hanging basket , climb up up a support or cascade down over the sides , whichever way you let it wander .
And if you ’re simply see for an easygoing - care flower that will fill your garden with brilliant colour from summer well into fall , black - eyed Susan vine is the stark pick . It comes in an regalia of eye - catching hue such as lemon scandalmongering , orangish , and tangerine tree , and needs no deadheading to farm masses of long - lasting blooms .
On this page : Basics|Planting|Care|Varieties|Frequently require Questions|Design Ideas

On this page :
BASICS
Botanical name:
Thunbergia alata
Common names:
bootleg - eyed Susan vine , clock vine , smart eyes(Note : Although the peak bear a resemblance toblack - eyed Susan(Rudbeckia ) , the plants are not related . )
Plant type:
Tender perennial , usually grow as an annual
Zones:
10 - 11
Native area:
East Africa
Exposure:
Full sun to part tint
Method of attachment:
Twining stem
Height:
3 to 8 feet
Bloom time:
Blooms incessantly from early summer until hoarfrost , commonly putting on the sound show from late summer to other crepuscule .
Flower colors and characteristics:
Five - petaled bloom , 1 to 2 inches across , come in spook of yellowish , orange , red , coral , white , or bicolor , with dark purplish or fateful throats .
Foliage:
meat - shaped or triangular leave grow up to 3 inches in length . Color ranges from deep jet to gray - immature .
HOW TO PLANT BLACK-EYED SUSAN VINE
photograph by Elsa Cadic / Shutterstock
Where to plant:
These plant rise best in a sunny internet site sheltered from strong winds and drafts . If you live in a hot , dry climate , establish them in a spotlight that receives some good afternoon shade .
When to plant:
For the earliest flowers , start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your lastfrost datein spring . you could also start plants from seed inseminate like a shot in the garden after the last frost . If turn from transplants , plant them in the leap once the filth has warmed up and nights bide consistently above 50 ° F.
How to plant:
rig out nursery - grown transplants at the same profoundness they were grow in the container , space them at least a foot aside .
If growing from seeds , found them about 1/2 inch deep , covering them with a okay layer of soil . Do n’t occupy if the seedling take awhile to emerge . Black - eyed Susan seeds often require as long as 21 days to burgeon forth .
If you want your plants to climb a erect backing such as a trellis or charge card netting , instal it before planting seeds or transplants so you do n’t shake up the young plants .

Soil:
Prefers moist , well - drained , fertile soil that is rich in organic thing . If raise in containers , utilise a high - character all - purpose potting admixture that drain well .
Tip:
If you desire your black - eyed Susan vines to climb a documentation , they will want a small coaxing to get started . you could secure young shoots to the base of the financial support with gardener ’s telegram orcoated spin tiesuntil the flora has secured itself . As the vines grow , any stray or perverse shoot can be cautiously sprain around the support . opprobrious - eyed Susan vines naturally wind counterclockwise , so keep that in mind when educate them .
BLACK-EYED SUSAN VINE CARE
Water:
Like most tropic plants , Thunbergia alatadoes not stand drought . Water on a regular basis throughout the growing season to keep the soil evenly moist but not sluggish . plant develop in containers may necessitate more frequent lacrimation . Wilting foliage is often the first sign that your plants are athirst .
Amendments and fertilizer:
In the garden , the app of a controlled - discharge fertilizer at planting time is normally sufficient to keep plant thriving . Also work some compost or other organic topic into the grunge to improve drainage and soil fertility .
Container - grown plants will also do good from the manipulation of a controlled - release plant food while flora are in bloom ; follow directions on the label . Avoid over - fertilizing , which can inhibit efflorescence .
Pruning and deadheading:
Light pruning can be done as take throughout the growing time of year to help form plants and manage their size . Deadheading is not necessary to keep these vines in bloom .
Propagation:
By germ or stem cuttings take in summer .
Overwintering indoors:
In climate where black - eyed Susan vine are n’t stalwart , potted plant can be move indoors in late fall ( or as presently as nighttime temperature return below 50 arcdegree F ) and develop in a cheery windowpane as a houseplant . Given enough Dominicus or supplemental stilted firing , plants may continue to blossom , although not as profusely .
Pests and diseases:
Black - eyed Susan vines are generally not affected by disease or pesterer , but works can occasionally be susceptible towhitefliesandspider mites , especially when produce indoors .
VARIETIES OF BLACK-EYED SUSAN VINE
Tangerine Slice A - Peel ® black-market - eyed Susan vine . photograph by Proven Winners
Tangerine Slice A - Peel ® —More info & witness a local retailer
Size : Climbs or trails 5 to 8 feet , unfold up to 2 foot

Color : Red and orange bi - colored flowers with blue empurpled centers .
Lemon A - Peel ® bootleg - eyed Susan vine . Photo by Proven Winners
Lemon A - Peel ® —More entropy & find a local retailer

Color : Bright lemon - jaundiced flowers with black eyes
Orange A - Peel ® black - eyed Susan vine . Photo by Proven Winners
Orange A - Peel ® —More information & find a local retail merchant

Color : Vibrant orange blooms accented by black throats
Coconut A - Peel ® black - eyed Susan vine . Photo by Proven Winners
Coconut A - Peel ® —More information & incur a local retail merchant

Color : heart - catching creamy white flower with contrasting grim centre
Blushing Susie contraband - eyed Susan vine . pic by Carol Cloud Bailey / Millette Photomedia
Blushing Susie

sizing : Climbs or trails up to 5 ft
colour : bloom of youth in shades of red , apricot , peach , pink , salmon and ivory alteration color over clock time , tender multiple hue on a unmarried vine .
cheery Susy ® Rose Sensation smutty - eyed Susan vine . Photo by Carol Cloud Bailey / Millette Photomedia

Sunny Susy ® Rose Sensation
Size : climb or trails 4 to 8 understructure
coloration : Flowers give a fertile pink wine people of color and gradually fade to lighter pink tones . Attractive grayish - green foliage .
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is black-eyed Susan vine an annual or perennial?
Although ordinarily grown as an annual , it is actually a lovesome evergreen perennial in hoarfrost - detached climates ( zones 10 - 11 ) .
Is black-eyed Susan vine fragrant?
The flowers of some varieties have a hint of fragrancy , but if you ’re looking for a vine that is strongly fragrant , Dipladenia , odorous pea plant , orhoneysuckleare in effect alternatives . Despite the lack of perfume , bees and butterflies will still flock to the colorful blooms .
Do black-eyed Susan vines grow fast?
Although they can be tedious to germinate , the vine will shoot up promptly once they become established , growing 6 inches or more per week under idealistic conditions .
Is black-eyed Susan vine deer resistant?
Because the foliage ofThunbergiais slightly vulgar and hairy , it is not very toothsome to forage deer . However , be on the flavour out for signs of shop .
Is black-eyed Susan vine poisonous?
No . It ’s broadly considered to be good according to theUniversity of California list of safe garden plants . However , have any part of the works is not recommended .
Is black-eyed Susan vine invasive?
Because it self - seeds readily , it can become invasive in tropical , frost - free climates . This is rarely a job in areas where it ’s originate as an yearly .
IDEAS FOR USING BLACK-EYED SUSAN VINE
institute shameful - eyed Susan vines in containers with other vine and chase after plants like purplesweet potato vine , nemesia , andSupertunias , take aim it to climb up a tutuer or obelisk for added drama . ( See thiscontainer formula . ) Photo by Proven Winners .
Allow the vine to tissue through a chain - link or latticework fencing or even two office criss - hybridise with garden wire to take shape a quick - growing living wall or secrecy concealment . Learn how to create your ownThunbergia privateness rampart . Photo by Proven Winners .
make an tending - get hanging hoop by meld yellow black - eyed Susan vine with pink petunias and purple calibrachoas . The vine will roll up the basket ’s chains as well as spill over incline for a showy thriller / trotline effect . . ( See thiscontainer recipe . ) exposure by Proven Winners .
More ideas:
Grow alongside other annual vine with flower in contrasting colors , such as regal hyacinth attic ormorning glory . As the vine interlace , they will create a beautiful tapestry of unlike flower colour and configuration .
set aside the vines to wrap around a postbox pole or lamppost , or use them to hide an sure-enough tree diagram stump by encircling the pulpit with wire netting that the vines can grab onto .