Thunbergia is one of the best pot plants for covering a large area quickly and for providing summer color. A few seeds sown in early spring will produce enough plants to clothe a screen or trellis with twining stems several feet long.
When grown as a climber some form of support is essential – it can also be grown as a trailing plant in a hanging basket. Pinch out tips of young plants. Available colors of flowers are orange, yellow, apricot, red, and white. Remove faded flowers before they produce seed.
Sow seeds or buy a plant of Thunbergia alata (Black-eyed Susan) in spring. Throughout the summer the brown-throated flowers appear, with petals of white, yellow or orange. Thunbergia Serengeti dark red has vibrant rich red colored blooms with dark centers will add interest and intrigue to any garden. Either on a trellis or as trailing plants in a container, this fast growing vine produces brightly colored flowers all summer. They are easy to care for and easy to grow.
Thunbergia erecta ‘King’s Mantle’ blossoms with velvety flowers all year, more in warmer months. ‘King’s Mantle’ has a rich, dark purple flower with a yellow throat. The color tends to be stronger in sun and look more blue in a bit more shade. This shrub works very well with a casual, cottage garden style.
Thunbergia alata ‘Blushing Susie’ – lovely range of flower color on the same plant, displaying mostly apricot with shades of ivory and pink. Spectacular when used tumbling over containers, twining around hanging basket chains or climbing a trellis in the garden.
Thunbergia does well with full sun, but requires partial shade in the hottest of climates. Members of the genus Thunbergia grow as perennial vines that have twining stems. Shoots can be killed off by frost, but roots generally will survive.
Secret of success
Temperature: Average warmth, minimum 50°F in winter.
Light: Bright light with some direct sun.
Water: New plantings should be watered daily for a couple of weeks. After that, depending on the weather and soil type, watering can be adjusted to every two or three days. Keep compost moist at all times. To check for soil moisture use your finger or a small trowel to dig in and examine the soil. If the first 2-4” (5-10cm) of soil is dry, it is time to water.
Air humidity: Mist leaves occasionally, especially in hot weather.
Fertilizer: Miracle-Gro® Water Soluble All Purpose Plant Food.
Care after flowering: Plant should be discarded.
