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Tecomanthe speciosa
When this climbing native Bignonia was first discovered by Professor Bayliss of Otago University on Great King Island in the late 1940s it caused quite a stir in the nursery world. Only one plant was found as others had been predated by goats and cuttings were taken from this lone plant and brought back to Auckland to hopefully grow into new plants. Luckily this proved not too difficult and within a few decades there were enough plants growing in different parts of New Zealand to remove this plant from the status of being the rarest plant in the world.
Tecomanthe speciosa is a spectacular large growing woody climber. Quick growing the strong green tendrils wrap around supports and develop into strong brown curvaceous arms. Large glossy dark green leaves clothe the stems. From May to August clusters of Fox Glove like flowers sprout from the bare woody stems. The buds are lime green and they open to cream. As the flowering season progresses the flowers open further up the vine and even into the green fresh seasons growth.
This climber requires space and naturally prefers to clamour over and through neighboring trees looking for light and support. However it will also grow in restricted positions if kept severely pruned. I have seen Tecomanthe successfully grown trained along the edge of a verandah and kept to the same size every year. The woody stems are the feature and new tendrils are kept clipped when they appear. In late summer the vine is given an all over cut back so by flowering time the vine has re clothed in leaves on top and the flowers drip from the woody stems. If you have an out of control Tecomanthe in your garden taking to it severely
with the pruners won’t be a problem
Tecomanthe is a coastal growing climber but needs protection from frosts below -3 degrees. It will grow in sun or semi shade but does not like its roots baking in hot sand. Plant in a well drained situation with added compost. It would be a good choice to grow in a large container such as a wine barrel where there is no soil but a climbing plant is required.
The tropical looking leaves go perfectly with ferns, Clivias, Hibiscus. Vireya Rhododendrons- indeed anything hot and tropical looking.
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