Native Plant Database

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Vine
Size Class: 36-72 ft.
Leaf Texture: Waxy
Fruit Type: Legume
Size Notes: 36-50 feet tall.
Fruit Color: Brown

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Red , Yellow
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr , May

Distribution

USA: AL , AR , FL , GA , IL , IN , KY , LA , MD , MS , MO , NC , OH , OK , SC , TN , TX , VA , WV
Native Distribution: FL to e. TX, n. to MD, WV & the Ohio R. valley
Native Habitat: Ditches, Ravines, Depressions, Shaded woods
USDA Native Status: L48(N)

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Sun , Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist
Soil pH: Circumneutral (pH 6.8-7.2)
CaCO3 Tolerance: Medium
Cold Tolerant: yes
Soil Description: Moist, well-drained soils. Sandy, Sandy Loam, Medium Loam, Clay Loam, Clay, Limestone-based.
Conditions Comments: Crossvine is similar to and is often confused with trumpet creeper, crossvine however, is usually evergreen and does not sucker. It climbs by tendrils. Crossvine is rugged and fast-growing. Heavy shade is tolerated, but the best flowering is achieved in full sun. No serious diseases or insect problems.
texas comments: Crossvine is similar to and often confused with trumpet creeper, but crossvine is usually evergreen and does not sucker. It climbs by tendrils and is fast-growing. Heavy shade is tolerated, but the best flowering is achieved in full sun. Branches can be cut back in the spring to encourage flowering. It has no serious diseases or insect problems.

Benefit

Use Ornamental: Climbs walls & columns, Twines on fences & other plants, Attractive, Blooms ornamental, Showy
Use Wildlife: Hummingbirds are attracted to flowers. An early nectar source for butterflies and hummingbirds.
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Interesting Foliage: yes
Attracts: Hummingbirds
Nectar Source: yes
Deer Resistant: High

Propagation

Propagation Material: Seeds
Seed Collection: Collect the large, woody capsules from late summer through fall when they are light brown and beginning to dry. Seeds remain viable one year in sealed, refrigerated containers.
Seed Treatment: Seed requires no pretreatment.
Commercially Avail: yes
Maintenance: Claws at the end of its tendrils allow crossvine to cling to stone, bricks and fences without support. Training to avoid crowding of stems will aid in the formation of flower shoots. Branches can be cut back in the spring to encourage flowering.

PlantWise: Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants

Bignonia capreolata (Crossvine) is a PlantWise native alternative for:

   Hedera helix (English ivy)
   Lonicera japonica (Japanese honeysuckle)
   Wisteria floribunda (Japanese wisteria)
   Wisteria sinensis (Chinese wisteria)

Find Seed or Plants

View propagation protocol from Native Plants Network.

Mr. Smarty Plants says

Question: Hello! I am checking local plants to plant on a Green Roof, and am researching on which are mostly to survive better. Is it possible to plant the following on a green roof?? (Root depth needed, basically) and would the fact of being on a green roof affect the time of growth?: lupinus texensis, pinus culminicola, cheilanthes alabamensis, vitis cinerea, cordia boissieri, sophora secundiflora, mascagnia macroptera, rubus aff. trivialis, eschscholtzia mexicana. Thank you!
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Question: We recently added a deck in our backyard which faces west, we live in Circle C (southwest Austin). The afternoon sun is intense so we're looking to plant something along our fence line to provide shade and privacy. We want something quick growing that will grow tall (20 or so feet) but not wide, since we don't want it to take up valuable yard space, maybe a tree? Also, can you recommend a flowering vine that can grow from the ground and climb to cover our brick patio columns. I'd love something fragrant, but nothing poisonous or that would attract bees.
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Question: I am a teacher in San Augustine, Texas (which is in the Eastern Pineywoods region). I have started an outdoor classroom/schoolyard habitat at our school. We are in the process of planning our plant selection and I am overwhelmed. I need to have several raised beds with themes but I am trying to stay native (for NWF and TPW certification) as well as please my administration by having a very pretty garden. I have several lists of native plants but I am struggling with knowing what will satisfy my requirements of type as well as my administrations requirements of beauty. My two largest beds will be the following (all beds will have purchased landscapers mix for soil and will be irrigated by drip lines): butterfly/hummingbird garden (20' x 40')(which I am going to try and get certified as a monarch waystation. (monarchwatch.org) east texas native bed (20' x 65') Any help that you could pass my way would be greatly appreciated.
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Question: Good day, I am putting in a stacked mortarless concrete block retaining wall which will rise to the forest floor along a cut bank - about 4 feet high. Each course steps back about one inch from the face of the one below. What native or relatively native plants can I plant in the top block cavities which will cover the top and / or cascade down the side of the wall? At this point I do not wish to cover the entire wall face. The area is adjacent to a "natural area" (wetland) along a small brook "estuary" into a reservoir. The face of the wall looks northwest. It gets late afternoon sun. Otherwise, partially shaded, by beech and oak, among others. The base of the wall is at least 6 feet above and 20 feet from the reservoir at full pond - 40 feet from the brook at low water, as now. I can set the grade to extend the forest floor up to the level of the block top such that surface run-off will reach the wall [notwithstanding the gravel drain field on the back side of the wall (standard construction practice)] and run down the wall face. There will be no irrigation and no watering after establishment. Thank you.
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Question: I recently purchased seeds for Scarlet Wisteria (Chinese rattlebox tree). I spoke to a neighbor about this and she warned me not to plant them as they were poisonous to hummingbirds. Can you clarify this for me? Also, is this a good species for planting in the Dallas area?
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From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Austin, TX
Texas Discovery Gardens - Dallas, TX

Bibliography

Landscaping with Native Plants of Texas and the Southwest (1991) Miller, G.O.
* Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants (2006) Burrell, C. C.
* Native Texas Plants: Landscaping Region by Region (2002) Wasowski, S. & A. Wasowski
* Texas Wildflowers: A Field Guide (1984) Loughmiller, C. & L. Loughmiller
Texas Wildscapes: Gardening for Wildlife (1999) Damude, N. & K.C. Bender

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Additional resources

USDA: Find Bignonia capreolata in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Bignonia capreolata in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Bignonia capreolata