Black-Eyed Susan Vine

On Feb 16, 2016, beachwoman from South Kingstown, RI (Zone 5b) wrote:

I was lucky to receive a large potted yellow Thunbergia balata last May. After placing it in a sunny spot on the front deck of my South Kingstown, RI home, I was rewarded with gorgeous yellow flowers all summer and well into fall. A few times during the summer I cut pieces, dipped them in rooting medium, and spread them around the yard. Some I put in with other plants where they enjoyed winding around the tall stems. Now I'm overwintering two inside and making new plants for spring. Easy and fun, and I can "pay it forward" by gifting new plants to others.

On Sep 20, 2014, Daggiewood1 from Morristown, TN (Zone 7a) wrote:

This plant was given to us as a housewarming gift. I planted it in a hanging basket where it gets morning sun. It has grown very well and flowered all summer. I took a cutting, used rooting hormone, and planted it in seed starting mix. The cutting is in a south-facing window and is doing well, and will be my hanging basket plant for next spring. This is one plant that will always be in my garden

On Jul 23, 2014, jillimou from Ayia Napa,
Cyprus wrote:

Since moving to Cyprus I have found quite a few very unusual plants growing. There are several beautiful examples of this particular blue flowering vine growing over fences and in flower all year round. Unfortunately the plant was very hard to find in local nurseries, so I ordered seeds from the UK. I didn't expect to be successful, but have just managed to germinate 3 seeds in 2 weeks. Can anyone advise the best way to take cuttings from a mature plant?

On Nov 20, 2012, dementad from Seattle, WA wrote:

I live in Seattle and purchased two plants by mail from a nursery in Michigan at the beginning of September. As soon as I transplanted them to a container and placed them in the garden room, they started putting out new shoots and are now putting out buds (late November). The new vines are perhaps two feet long. They live an outdoor "garden room" where there's lots of light, but the temperature has stayed mostly in the 50's this month. I have a heater in the room that comes on automatically if the temp drops below 40 degrees, but it looks like this plant doesn't mind cool nights.

On Jan 31, 2011, Sonnenblume from Aurora, CO (Zone 5b) wrote:

I bought a potted "annual" plant with the label Thunbergia Alata late this summer at the local supermarket . It looked like a pretty hanging vine. A lady told me she put a fertilizer spike in there and it bloomed so pretty for her. I hung it in front of the house and it grew nicely until frost when I had to bring it inside. I decided to try to overwinter it in the house. After blooming a short while longer it started to dry out and drop most of its leaves so I thought, oh boy, maybe this is not going to work. I moved it into the warmest sunniest room in the house and watered it regularly but did not notice it much for a while, until new fresh green leaves started growing perhaps in December. Now we are at the end of January and it has lots of new fresh growth but no flowers at this point. ... read moreI think its going to make it though and I can hang it back outside come spring. Its a good choice for Colorado as long as you pamper it inside for the winter, otherwise treat it as an annual. I doubt that it will be like a weed here it just looks like a beautiful groomed hanging plant with a bit of an exotic look. The yellow flowers with the dark dot in the middle are cute and tender looking when they bloom. I got positive comments from family. Of course this summer I will have it much longer than last year so perhaps it will grow fast too so I will update my comment if necessary but so far so good. Its looks really nice. Glad I listened to the lady who recommended it!

On Sep 13, 2010, bilottashii from Santa Fe, TX wrote:

I planted seeds this past spring to replace the vines I lost during the freeze last winter. They shot up right away and filled the trellis but has never bloomed. I can't figure out what I've done wrong since last years vines bloomed profusly.
Anyone have any advice?

On Oct 22, 2009, uncletim1958 from Clearfield, PA wrote:

our black eyed suan grew so nice this yr our first time we had one now that the frost got it will it come back next year any one know if it will. let us know thank you tim and janet

On Mar 12, 2009, gilbert2 from Van Nuys, CA wrote:

Fast grower, and great wall covering, the only negative is the invasiveness. One must be constantly vigilant in the pruning back of new shoots, or it will take over. But with moderate care, it beautifies even a horrid cinder block wall. Attach some bolts and wire mesh first.

On Jul 9, 2008, mercedez1965 from Keokuk, IA wrote:

I literally am known as the "family plant killer" I can not grown weeds let alone flowers. Last year I purchased a huge hanging basket before mother's day of this plant. It was so beautiful and was still blooming after Halloween. This year I decided it would be more cost effective to purchase 3 small ones about 6" long, and it is about 7ft long, bloombing like crazy. I get alot of comments on this plant, and love how it blooms all summer. may try to bring in, if not I'm going to purchase seed to plant my own from seeds next year, nursery had them planted in one of the green bags that hang on a porch, I have purchased 2 emptys to try next spring for each side of the porch. It loves the east sun, gets plenty in the cool part of the day and by the time it's hot out it's in the shade of ... read morethe porch. I haven't yet saw one go to seed, so I'm hoping to get some seeds off this one to replant for one next year. Going to do several in different colors in different locations next year. So easy even my 20yr old black thumb grows it easily without problems, and it has so much color and is so bright. Glad I found this one by accident last year. And my humming birds come near it and my fuchia. I have never noticed the "white flies" someone mentioned. And I live in an area with a very high water table deep in the country, lots of mosquitos, flies, ticks, etc. And it has never drawn any type of insects other than an occasional honey bee flying by. Very Very happy with the results on this one.

On May 3, 2008, Malus2006 from Coon Rapids, MN (Zone 4a) wrote:

I like this species- it flowers really well compare to other annual vines - even Mourning Glory are fickle in our climate.

On Jun 5, 2006, Tokoro from Sacramento, CA (Zone 9a) wrote:

A very faster grower that I used to mask an air conditioner on an emergency basis (family coming to visit!). The flowers are delightful and numerous, but it attracts white flies like crazy. I planted three here in the Sacramento Delta with mixed results. One, in the most protected location, survived the winter nicely, losing most of its leaves and all of the whiteflies, but growing vigorously again in early spring. One is just beginning to re-emerge in late May, and the third appears to be dead and gone. The various jasmines I planted are a better solution. They are green all winter here, although they also attract whiteflies.

On Feb 27, 2006, JaxFlaGardener from Jacksonville, FL (Zone 8b) wrote:

My T. alata (yellow flowered version) grows on a fence in fairly heavy shade, but still blooms for me, though not profusely. It has spread to nearby shrubs and plants. I have noticed that it actually seems to prefer to be a creeper rather than a climber. The vine sections grow thicker and look healthier when scampering across the grass instead of twisting up the fence.

Jeremy

On Jan 30, 2006, TexasBlueBonnet from Sour Lake, TX (Zone 9a) wrote:

Here it is January 30th in Southeast Texas and my vine is blooming. It has put on new growth and new shoots in the last 3 to 4 weeks. I'm not going to tell it is winter time.

On Nov 22, 2005, cheryldawn from Lakeland, FL wrote:

I planted my pumpkin orange black eyed Susan vine about 12 years ago and it blooms almost all year round here in Florida. I love it but have yet to see seeds on it. This past Spring I planted Sunrise Surprise and Blushing Susan, new varities which has shades of apricot and rose.
Can anyone tell me how to take cuttings from them? When is a good time of year to do it, and what part of the vine do I cut? Soft or hardwood? Do, I stick the cutting straight in soil? Also, if I can do it sucessfully, I would like to trade some cuttings of my blushing Susan and Sunrise surprise for someone's orange wonder Susan vine. The Susie vine that is bright orange.
Thanks.
Cheryl

On Sep 4, 2005, flowercrazy39 from Manchester, NH wrote:

I'm growing this vine with Grandpa Ott Morning Glorys and the contrast between the purple and yellow looks beautiful!

On Dec 7, 2004, ncgardenaddict from Kannapolis, NC (Zone 7b) wrote:

Very easy to start from seed. Too easy in fact. I used to love this plant - now it loves my yard. I cannot get rid of it despite pulling up every seedling I can get my hands on. This one is rivaling the wild morning glories in tenacity.

On May 14, 2004, Spiderman30 from Casa Grande, AZ wrote:

I planted seeds (4 years ago) in a large pot, added a 4 foot metal trellis and it has come back every year. It blooms from spring until winter. I have it sitting outside under a covered patio. The 100 plus heat and wind is hard on it - but the vine hangs in there. Not much can take our relentless heat, but I think if it was planted in a shady area and kept moist it would do fine. I have really been rewarded with lots flowers and will continue going it here in Arizona.

On Oct 28, 2003, pancha from Oklahoma City, OK (Zone 7b) wrote:

Thunbergia alata is grown as an annual in Oklahoma. The leaves and stems are the same as Thunbergia battiscombei.

On Aug 20, 2003, susan041334 wrote:

I bought this as a hanging plant - hung it from a chain on the front porch and very shortly it had climbed up the entire length of the chain to the porch ceiling. The blooms have all disappeared but the greenery remains. I wonder if I can cut it back when time to come in for the winter... (I live in southern Indiana, so have to bring a lot of my things inside.)

On Jun 27, 2003, Monocromatico from Rio de Janeiro,
Brazil (Zone 11) wrote:

This climber grows fast, but hardly gets dangerous to other species (could cover shrubs and short trees like other climbers, but it doesn´t). It doesn´t necessarily require a rich soil, growing well on sandy ones. Near the litoral, it´s pretty common in abandoned areas, where it grows spontaneously

On Aug 30, 2002, debi_z from Springfield, MA (Zone 6a) wrote:

I had one sorry seedling that survived my over-watering. when I planted it in a container outside I figured it would die. Well, I was wrong, and it turned into a beautiful plant that drapes over the container. I gave it Miracle Grow every 2 weeks or so, when I was doing the veggie beds. A success despite its terrible beginnings.

On Feb 23, 2002, poppysue from Westbrook, ME (Zone 5a) wrote:

Black-eyed Susan vine is an perennial climber native to South Africa. Grown in tropical zones it will climb to 8 feet but stays much smaller when grown as an annual or when it is contained in a pot. Orange or yellow flowers have chocolate-purple centers and are produced in mid-summer until autumn.