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 .

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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

Thunbergia On Trellis
Proven Winners
Sycamore, IL

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 .

Thunbergia On Trellis
Proven Winners
Sycamore, IL

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

Thunbergia On Trellis
Proven Winners
Sycamore, IL

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

Black-Eyed Susan Vine On Fence 
Shutterstock.com
New York, NY

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

Black-Eyed Susan Vine On Fence 
Shutterstock.com
New York, NY

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

Black-Eyed Susan Vine On Fence 
Shutterstock.com
New York, NY

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

Thunbergia On Trellis
Proven Winners
Sycamore, IL

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

Black-Eyed Susan Vine On Fence 
Shutterstock.com
New York, NY

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 .