Cross Vine is a vigorous woody climber native to the southeastern U.S. that earns its common name from the cross-shaped pattern visible when you cut its stem. Hardy in zones 5 through 9, this Bignonia capreolata variety grows 15 to 30 feet tall and spreads 6 to 9 feet, making it a muscular choice for covering arbors, pergolas, and walls quickly. The plant produces fragrant, showy flowers in May and June that attract hummingbirds, while its compound dark green leaves and branched tendrils with adhesive disks create a lush, attractive canopy that clings without help.
Partial Sun
Moderate
5-9
360in H x 108in W
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Moderate
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The adhesive disks at the tips of its branched tendrils allow cross vine to grip walls and structures on its own, eliminating the need for tying or support wires. Hummingbirds visit the fragrant flowers reliably each spring, and the foliage remains attractive throughout the growing season. Even in zone 5, where winter can be harsh, the roots survive and regenerate new stems each spring, making it a tough, long-lived investment.
Cross Vine serves as an ornamental climbing vine for softening and rapidly covering vertical structures like arbors, pergolas, walls, and fences. Its ability to self-cling through adhesive tendrils makes it especially useful where tying in new growth would be tedious. The showy, fragrant blooms in late spring make it a natural choice for hummingbird gardens and pollinator-focused landscapes.
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Prune cross vine after flowering to manage its vigorous growth and maintain the shape you want. In zone 5, do not prune heavily in fall; wait until spring after frost danger passes and new growth begins to emerge from the roots.
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