
Common Names: cypress vine, cardinal climber, star glory
Cypress-vine is a very attractive twining morning-glory with smooth
stems, lacy leaves and scarlet flowers. The leaves are 7.5-10 cm
3-4" long and feather-like, finely divided pinnately into threadlike
segments. The scarlet red (rarely white) flowers are tubular, about
4 cm 1.5" long, and flare out at the mouth into a five-pointed star.
Under ideal conditions the vine can climb to 6 mtr 20' or more, but
it is always a dainty, fragile vine and not at all aggressive.
Cypress-vine is native to Mexico and tropical America .
Light: Full sun to partial shade.
Moisture: Needs well-drained soil. Tolerates drought, but grows best
and produces the most flowers if well-watered.
Propagation: By seeds. Cypress-vine will self-sow from seeds .
Cypress-vine is an excellent source of nectar for butterflies and
hummingbirds.
The seeds are relatively large, easy to handle and take only 4 days
to sprout; the cotyledons (seed leaves) are large and distinctive,
looking like swept-back airplane wings; the next leaves to appear
are the handsome feathery leaves that distinguish the plant; the
vine grows quickly, producing beautiful scarlet flowers in less than
30 days.
Then the butterflies and hummingbirds come! |