Lavender Orchid Vine, Blue Orchid Vine

I've had this vine for years, and wouldn't recommend planting it unless it's confined within a paved area. Mine has just about taken over...Read More a whole hillside, and is continuing to spread. I constantly have to keep it in check, which isn't an easy task, as it is a rampant grower, twining around plants and strangling them, and also sending runners out in every direction over the surface of the ground, and in my case under and through boulders. The runners root as they go, creating new vines. It would easily take over my whole garden if I allowed it. It's gorgeous right now in the fall, and that is when it flowers for me, mostly up in the tops of the trees. It's untroubled by drought, and recovered quickly from our record cold winter in the single digits in early 2021 here in the TX Hill Country, zone 8b. If you can find it, and want to try it, just be very careful where you put it!

Central Phoenix -- The Mascagnia lilacina in my yard is growing at the base of a 10+ foot foothills palo verde. The stems going up are b...Read Moreare and only in the top of the palo verde are there Mascagnia leaves. It is usually inconspicuous, but in the fall it flowers profusely and it looks very odd -- why is that foothills palo verde blooming in the fall and why on earth are the blossoms purple! The Mascagnia does send out long snaking shoots across the ground, but they are easily removed and I haven't had a problem with the shoots rooting. Of course the location is pretty dry which probably helps keep them from rooting, although it is adjacent to a flood irrigation area that gets water every other week March to November.

Beautiful but a bit aggressive. Runs along the ground and through shrubs, rooting along the way. Has caused a severe rash with some people.

I bought mine in a 3 gal. pot, so it was already fairly large and established. I put it in the ground right after I bought it in March, ...Read Moremulched it, and have kept it well-watered. I've only fertilized it once. To date, it has grown over the top of my arbor and is doubling back on itself, and still growing. I was very surprised when it decided to bloom! The flowers are beautiful, delicate, and fragile. I love this vine!