PlantFiles: Bower Vine, Jasmine
Pandorea jasminoides

I bought mine (an Alba cultivar -- all white) last year, at the end of spring (May here in Central Florida). I was disappointed, since it bloomed only very fitfully and sparsely and grew only about a foot or so. It was hit pretty hard by frost in January, but came back quickly. This year (its second in my garden), it's continued to grow fairly slowly, winding its way around one of my fenceposts and slowly spreading out along the top of the fence. It has bloomed nonstop since late March (it's now the beginning of June). Striking clusters of large, unfragrant flowers with nice, dark foliage. Like all climbing vines, it defoliates at the base -- be sure to plant something at its base or stick it at the back of a border.

An update: It's July and the vine has continued to expand, slowly, and flower more or less continuously. It does have a twining habit, and I've had to cut it out of a rose that's grown "out of bounds." I commented above that it loses its leaves at the base. Well, it's filled in down there now and forms an attractive, solid column from ground to the top of my garden fence. Not bad. I'd plant it again.

I bought 2 years ago in a 3 gal pot and stuck it inside a hollow tree trunk, hoping it would grow all over the old tree. It did. Other than rain, I have never watered it. The vine has grow well, however, it doesn't bloom much because it is located in a part-sun spot. I will transplant next spring to full sun. My plant is the white one with a red eye. very pretty.

Someone gave me this vine in a one gallon pot from a home depot. I put it in a protected spot and cover it when it freezes. This is the first winter I have had it, but I am zone 8. Worried it won't servive, but it has made it fine through 4 freezes already.

Lovely flower, I need to move mine, I believe it to be in too much shade, only blooms at the top.

I JUST PURCHASED ONE FROM LOWE'S THAT WAS MARKED DOWN. IT HAS NO BLOOMS. IT IS IN PRETTY BAD SHAPE AND THE POTTING WAS ALL DRIED OUT, BUT IT STILL A LOT OF HEALTHY LOOKING LEAVES. I AM GOING TO TRY AND NURSE IT BACK TO A HEALTHY CONDITION. WILL LET YOU KNOW HOW IT TURNS OUT.

Starting this plant from seed was very easy and it flowers in a very short time. I haven't had any problems with transplanting to a larger pot.

Flowers last a long time and are very showy with a velvety feel to them but the fragrance isn't very strong. The foliage is quite nice and glossy. An easy to care for plant.

I've grown this plant in both Sydney and Melbourne. It needs little care and will grow up anything available. I find it too sparse to grow on its own over a pergola for example but with another climber to provide shade its long season and pretty flowers make it valuable.
I recently spotted a pod, tried 6 seeds in ordinary potting compost and all six germinated - dead easy. I've also had success transplanting a mature plant, the foliage did die back but the plant then recovered,and grew away rapidly.

Considering this vine comes from Queensland, Aus. it is a truly remarkable performer in cooler climates. Mine clambers around the backdoor and gets blasted with bitter north-easterly winds in winter. Despite this, it flowers superbly for 8 months of the year and even on Christmas Day, manages to put on a brave show. Here in the south of England it creates a wonderful splash of colour - no fragrance, but the fine, glossy foliage and length and freedom of flower more than make up for that.

The leaves are beautiful and glossy. The flowers on my plant doesnt seem to be fragrant though. Very showy in the spring time. My pandorea can handle drought real well, I hardly ever water it. The ground around it is dry and hard as rock. Neutral rating because it's not very exciting, there are more interesting vines than this one.

Pendulous, fragrant flowers are a bonus!