Common name: Orchid vine

Orchid vine is an evergreen vine originating from South America and the southern Caribbean. 

The stems are vining, up to 10 m (30 ft) long, woody and slender, making the plant susceptible to wind damage on exposed locations. 

Leaves heart-shaped, dark green and prominently veined. They are arranged along the stems in pairs and are somewhat showy.

Flowers are orchid-like, bright yellow and borne in small clusters on long stalks. They bloom from spring through summer, extending into autumn in some areas.  

Use

Usually, it is cultivated as an ornamental vine to grow on a trellis, arbour or fence for a showy flowering display or to create a privacy screen or shade element for outdoor spaces.

Climate

Orchid vine grows naturally in humid subtropical and tropical climates, generally areas with annual lows of 13 to 25°C, annual highs of 23 to 35°C, annual rainfall above 1000 mm and a dry season of 3 months or less, extending to 7 months or more with irrigation or surface water.

Growing

Its planting is not encouraged due to its weed potential. New plants are usually started from tip cuttings or suckers.

Orchid vine performs best on permanently moist clay-loam, loam, sandy-loam and loamy-sand soils of a moderately acidic to alkaline nature, generally with a pH of 5.0 to 8.0.

Problem features

A high weed risk. It can form a dense groundcover in wetland areas and the understorey and lower canopy levels of forest habitats.

Books

• Griffiths, M. & Burras, J. K. 1994, Manual of climbers and wall plants, Royal Horticultural Society (Great Britain), Timber Press, Portland, Oregon

• Mathias, M. E., 1982, Flowering plants in the landscape, University of California Press, Berkeley

• Menninger, E. A. 1970, Flowering vines of the world : an encyclopedia of climbing plants, Hearthside Press, New York

• Oakman, H. 1995, Harry Oakman's what flowers when : the complete guide to flowering times in tropical and subtropical gardens, University of Queensland Press, St. Lucia, Queensland

• Randall, R. P. 2002, A global compendium of weeds, R.G. and F.J. Richardson Press, Melbourne