Spearwood Pandorea pandorana
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- pan-DOH-ree-uh pan-dor-AN-uh
- Description
-
Pandora vine is a vigorously climbing, woody vine in the trumpetvine family (Bignoniaceae) that is native to Australia, Malesia and the SW Pacific region. Both the generic and specific name make reference to Pandora (she of the box) of Greek myth. In the original description of the species (from 1799), new growth on the plant was said to attract aphids, which quickly colonized the entire plant and then spread to nearby vegetation. The name was a warning to those who might want to cultivate that it may bring devastating infestations of pests.
This vine is adaptable to most soil types and pHs and is drought tolerant. It will grow in sun or partial shade. Pruning is necessary to keep it to the desired size especially in a small garden.
It is a vigorous tropical evergreen plant that is hardy to about 25 degrees Fahrenheit. The leaves are attractive and the flowers are very showy in cascading clusters of trumpet-shaped flowers in early spring. It spreads by seeds and by layering stems. It can form a dense mat, and it quickly grows over structures or trees.
Use this vine to cover fences, buildings or trellises. It can also be grown as a houseplant.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: No major pest problems.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Alba
- 'Golden Showers'
Yellow flowers - Rosea
- 'Ruby Belle'
Pinkish flowers - 'Snowbells',
White flowers
- Alba
- Alba , 'Golden Showers', Rosea , 'Ruby Belle', 'Snowbells',
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Alba
- 'Golden Showers'
Yellow flowers - Rosea
- 'Ruby Belle'
Pinkish flowers - 'Snowbells',
White flowers
- Alba
- Alba , 'Golden Showers', Rosea , 'Ruby Belle', 'Snowbells',
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Pandorea
- Species:
- pandorana
- Family:
- Bignoniaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Wood was used by Australian aborigines for making throwing devices.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Layering
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Australia, Malasia, SW Pacific region
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Climbing Method:
- Twining
- Dimensions:
- Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 50 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
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-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Vine
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Climbing
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Medium
-
-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Fruits are oblong-shaped green seed pods that mature to brown releasing numerous papery seeds. Pods are 1.5 to 3 inches long.
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Description:
- Masses of pendulous tubular flowers that vary in color from creamy yellow with red or purple markings in throat to all white.
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-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Glossy green pinnate compound leaves have 3-9 leaflets. Young foliage ins finely cut and fern-like
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Container
- Houseplants
- Vertical Spaces
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Barrier
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Heat
- Humidity
