Pink Trumpet Vine
Surprisingly, the pink trumpet vine has been out of fashion in Australian gardens for a long time. As well as pink trumpet vine, this showy plant is also commonly known as Port St. John creeper, after its place of origin in South Africa. Its genus name Podranea is an anagram of Pandorea, the genus name for a group of closely related Australian native vines.
Plant details
Common name: Pink Trumpet Vine or Port St. John Creeper
Botanic name: Podranea ricasoliana
Description: Vigorous, evergreen scrambler with glossy compound leaves. The beautiful trumpet shaped flowers are pale pink with carmine stripes and yellowish shading in the throat. Flowering time is summer and autumn. The fruit is a bean-like capsule containing winged seeds.
Best climate: Pink trumpet vine will grow best in the warmer parts of Australia, and is well worth a try in inland areas. It has low water needs once established.
Best look:
grown over fences or walls pruned into a shrub or weeping standard, as shown in our segment good as a sprawling groundcover trained along a chain link fence
Good points:
hardy attractive flowers very free flowering virtually pest and disease free drought resistant
Downside:
high maintenance if pruned as a shrub or standard
Care:
Pink trumpet vine grows best in a sunny position, but will tolerate light shade. It needs a well drained soil and a strong support if it is to be grown as a climber. Water well until the plant becomes established. Prune to shape and control growth immediately after flowering.
Getting started:
Pink trumpet vine is available at nurseries and garden centres. Plants in 200mm (8″) pots cost $12-15.