Lavender Trumpet Vine
Latin Name: Bignonia callistegioides
$18.95
- Pot Size: 4 Inch
- Hardiness Zone: Zone 8, Zone 9, Zone 10, Zone 11
Bignonia callistegioides is an evergreen climbing vine from the warm woodlands of South America. It clings with slender tendrils and drapes over fences, arbors, and walls. In spring, wide trumpet-shaped flowers open in soft lavender, each throat marked with darker violet lines. Those lines work like runway markings, steering bees toward the nectar deep inside the bloom. The glossy, paired leaflets remain green for most of the year, giving the vine a lush, tropical appearance. Trained onto a strong support, it forms a leafy curtain that softens bare walls and hard surfaces.
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Plant Details
Quick Information
- Latin Name: Bignonia callistegioides
- Plant Family: Bignoniaceae
- Common Names: Violet Trumpet Vine, Lavender Trumpet Vine, Argentine Trumpet Vine (also sold as Clytostoma callistegioides and Bignonia violacea)
- Origin / Native Range: Southern Brazil and northern Argentina
- Mature Height × Width: 15–30 ft × 6–12 ft (as a climbing vine)
- Exposure Requirements: Full Sun to Light Shade
- Irrigation Requirements: Moderate
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 8–11
- Cold Hardiness: 20°F–25°F
- Bloom Time: Spring through Early Summer
- Bloom Color: Lavender to Lilac with Violet Veins
General Information
Bignonia callistegioides grows as a woody, evergreen vine with a fast, sprawling habit. Each leaf is made of two glossy leaflets, with a tendril – a slender coiling thread – reaching out from the tip. The tendrils grab onto wire, lattice, or nearby stems, letting the vine pull itself upward without twining around its support. Young plants look thin and wiry at first. Over a few seasons, the stems thicken and weave into a dense, leafy screen. In spring, flared trumpet flowers open along the stems, each bloom several inches wide and streaked with violet lines. As the flowers fade, flattened brown seed capsules form and split open to release papery, winged seeds.
In its native range across southern Brazil and northern Argentina, this vine scrambles along warm, wooded edges and over thickets. There it climbs toward gaps in the canopy to reach the light its flowers need. That habit explains its behavior in the garden. Given full sun and a sturdy support, it climbs quickly and blooms best. In the hottest low-desert gardens, a little afternoon shade helps protect the leaves and flowers. It is not a desert plant, so it grows best with regular watering during the warm months and moderate watering once established. Hard frost burns the top growth, but the roots of an established plant usually survive and push out fresh shoots in spring. Because of that, it performs most reliably in zones 9 through 11, with dieback likely in colder areas.
This vine was long placed in its own genus, Clytostoma, and it is still widely sold under that name and as Bignonia violacea. Recent studies group it with the crossvines, including the North American native Bignonia capreolata, which climbs in much the same tendril-gripping way. Gardeners should know that this is a vigorous grower. On a small trellis, it can quickly outgrow its space, so it suits large fences, arbors, and pergolas better. A yearly pruning after bloom keeps it tidy and encourages fresh flowering wood. The plant is not known to be toxic, but its heavy stems can smother shrubs or light structures if left unmanaged.
General Planting & Cultivation Information
Even drought-tolerant plants require regular watering until they are well established, good drainage is essential. If planting in containers, avoid pots without drainage holes.
Irrigate by watering deeply and then allowing the top several inches of soil to dry between waterings. This encourages the plant to send roots deep into the earth in search of moisture, helping it to become established, prevent root rot, build drought tolerance, and resilience to wind, heat, and cold.
The length of time between waterings will vary depending on your growing conditions and environment. Use a moisture meter for precise irrigation.
When planting, set the plant at the same depth as it was in its current container. For trees, ensure the top of the root flare is at soil level.
Young plants are vulnerable to harsh conditions, so consider growing them in larger containers until mature.
When planting in the ground, research the optimal planting season for your climate zone and protect young plants from frost.
To support establishment, consider creating a microclimate with nurse plants, shade, or wind protection. This can reduce stress, conserve soil moisture, and increase long-term success.
Protect the small, immature plants from rabbits and deer.
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