Crossvine
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Bignonia capreolata
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Bignoniaceae
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Landscape Uses:
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Woody vine for naturalistic landscapes climbing on high trees or fences, or pruned to sturdy trellises. |
Ecological Restoration Notes: |
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Availability: |
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Widely available in central Florida. |
Description: |
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High-climbing evergreen woody vine. Dark green, opposite compound leaves with two leaflets. Reddish orange trumpet shaped flowers 2-3 inches long. Climbs with tendrils. |
Height: |
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Up to 50 feet in height. |
Growth Rate: |
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Fast. |
Range: |
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Central and southeastern United States south to Volusia, Osceola, Polk, and Hillsborough counties. |
Habitats: |
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Floodplain forest, wet hammocks, rich woods |
Soils: |
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Moist to dry loamy or sandy soils with humusy top layer. |
Nutritional Requirements: |
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Moderate; can grow in nutrient poor soils, but needs some organic content to thrive. |
Salt Water Tolerance: |
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Low; does not tolerate flooding by salt or brackish water. |
Salt Wind Tolerance: |
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Moderate; grows near salt water, but is protected from direct salt spray by other vegetation. |
Drought Tolerance: |
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Low; requires moist to wet soils and is intolerant of long periods of drought. |
Light Requirements: |
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Full sun to light shade. |
Flower Color: |
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Reddish orange outside, yellow inside. |
Flower Characteristics: |
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Tubular, often in clusters. |
Flowering Season: |
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March-June. |
Fruit: |
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Narrow, dry, light-brown capsule 4-8 inches long. Splits to expose 4 rows of winged seeds. |
Wildlife and Ecology: |
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Valuable source of nectar for birds. |
Horticultural Notes: |
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Comments: |
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We have been adding data for this species for central and northern Florida and welcome any feedback or review. If you would like to contribute information or images, please contact George Gann via the IRC staff page. See also the Florida Wildflower Foundation's Flower Friday page. |
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