The crossvine, Bignonia capreolata, is a vigorous woody vine with branched tendrils attached to adhesive disks. This plant is mainly grown for its attractive flowers and foliage, which can rapidly cover structures. Its compound leaves are bifoliate, with dark green leaflets and tendrils between them. The size of the leaflets varies from lanceolate to oblong. Tendrils can easily cling to walls using adhesive disks at their ends. In the south, the leaf color remains evergreen, but in colder climates, it changes to reddish-purple in the fall with leaf drop. Fragrant, trumpet-shaped, yellow-orange and red flowers appear in early spring in clusters of 2-5 flowered cymes. Pod-like seeds mature in late summer and persist into the fall, reaching up to 7 inches in length and remaining greenish.
This vine is closely related to Campsis radicans, commonly known as trumpet vine.
The plant thrives in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. While it can tolerate full shade, the best flower production occurs in full sun. Pruning after flowering may be necessary. In USDA Zone 5, above-ground stems may die in severe winters, but the roots are typically hardy and sprout new growth the following spring. Established plants may produce root suckers, which should be removed if unwanted spreading occurs.
