In the gardens, on balconies and terraces, you can admire a variety of original and decorative climbing plants. The richness of plants is amazing. This variety includes annuals and perennials with decorative leaves and flowers. The most beautiful annual among climbing plants is Thunbergia, characterized primarily by yellow-orange flowers with a dark eye, this is not the only form in which we can see it.
Popular – winged thunbergia(Thunbergia alata) is one of several dozen species belonging to the genus Thunbergia. The natural habitats of the genus are found in Africa and Asia. Belonging to the Acanthaceae family, thunbergias are typically climbing plants and shrubs.
Of the many species, only a few have gained recognition and become famous ornamental plants.
The most famous species found in cultivation include:
Thunbergia winged, called “Black-eyed Suzanne,” is becoming a popular annual climbing plant, although in its homeland it grows as a perennial. It is especially readily used for placement on balconies and terraces. Canopy cultivation is the dominant form of cultivation of this species. In the wild, therefore, in Africa it grows up to 3 m in height. In our climate it is much lower, usually up to one meter, reaching a maximum of 1.5 m.
Twisty, creeping shoots climb along fences (grids, fences, railings). If you place a flower in a hanging basket, it will have a hanging (crying) shape.
The leaves are opposite, serrated, set on long petioles, oval to heart-shaped. Decorative flowers appear in the leaf axils already in June and bloom until frost.
There are numerous varieties of winged Thunbergia, differing in flower color.
A rare species of the Thunbergia genus, also grown on balconies and terraces, is Thunbergia grandiflora. In its native places it is a highly climbing, perennial creeping plant, but in our climate, due to the cold winter, it is an annual plant that can overwinter. Large-flowered thunbergia delights with blue flowers with a yellow center. Reaching several centimeters in length, they look beautiful against the background of large, heart-shaped leaves up to 20 cm long.
The flower prefers a sunny place, protected from the wind, or in the shade in case of extreme heat. When growing a vine at home, you should provide it with a clear place, preferably near a window.
Prefers warm places. At home it grows well at room temperature. Outdoors in open ground should not be exposed to large temperature changes. For the winter, the flower should be moved to a bright and frost-protected room. The temperature should be approximately 5-10 °C.
Since the liana is characterized by a large green mass and abundant flowering, it requires good soil rich in nutrients. When growing in containers, choosing the right soil is the basis for success. The soil must be fertile, humus, permeable, and calcareous. The substrate should be supplemented with, for example, fine gravel to ensure an appropriate level of permeability and prevent root rot. You should also be mindful of drainage.
When growing thunbergia, attention is first paid to watering and fertilization. The needs of plants in this regard are significant. They like humidity and should avoid dry air, especially in indoor environments. Watering is done quite abundantly, but depending on the prevailing conditions, there is no need to overwater, the flower does not like a wet substrate. Do not overdry the substrate, this will limit the growth of the plant.
Fertilize regularly with liquid multi-component fertilizer every 7 days to replenish nutrients from the soil that are not sufficient in the container. When grown in open ground, it is enough to fertilize every two weeks. Mineral fertilizers should be supplemented with organic fertilizer.
In case of wintering, thunbergia is cut off in the spring and transplanted into a new substrate.
In order for thunbergia to create a green wall, you need to provide it with good support. In principle, it wraps well around gratings, balustrades, fences, and bamboo posts. To give it a creeping shape, you can place the flower pot in a hanging basket. Flowering shoots of thunbergia billowing in the wind will look picturesque.
Remember, young specimens are equipped with supports the moment they produce proper leaves.
It is important that the supports are firmly attached, especially those with a large surface area. When creating a green wall, it is exposed to large gusts of wind, and if it is poorly secured, it may topple over.
If you want to leave thunbergia for the winter, move the plant to a bright room before frost begins and keep it at a temperature of 5-10 °C. Watering is limited, fertilization is stopped, and in the spring it is transplanted to a new, fertile substrate, having trimmed the plant in advance. Then they are moved to a warmer room. After hardening in the second half of May, the flower can be placed on the terrace and balcony.
Thunbergia is best propagated by seeds. Seedlings are prepared in early February or March by sowing several seeds in a pot or boxes. It is necessary to provide a bright place with a temperature of 15-20 °C. Young seedlings dive into pots; when they get older, they pinch off the top for better growth. In the second half of May, the plants are taken out onto the balcony and terrace, but before that they are hardened off.
You can try to propagate thunbergia vegetatively, using apical cuttings taken in the summer.
Thunbergias are decorative vines that will bloom beautifully and profusely if their requirements are met. Very often, when growing vines, there are many problems, which, unfortunately, are the result of our negligence.
Weakened plants easily become victims of whiteflies, spider mites and aphids. Dry air and lack of moisture contribute to the appearance of pests.
Too elongated stems and pale leaves are a sign of too dark places. In the shade you should not count on lush flowering.
Faded leaves are a sign of dry soil, especially during hot days. The humidity of the substrate should be controlled; thunbergia does not like dry soil. Under such conditions, the leaves wither and turn yellow, and plant growth slows down.
A substrate that is too wet results in yellowing and wilting of the leaves.
The name Thunbergia comes from the name of the Swedish botanist Carl Peter Thunberg.
The spectacular tropical liana thunbergia is an annual plant that can grow from seeds to several meters in height in a short time, entwining various supports. Particularly admirable are the flowers of thunbergia, which can be purple, yellow, white, bright orange or bright crimson. The plant is universal and can be grown both in the garden and indoors.
The plant is a liana, the average height of which can reach 2-2.5 m. The soft, pubescent leaves of the plant can be lobed, opposite, or whole, ovate or heart-shaped. Thunbergia flowers, collected in inflorescences or single funnel-shaped flowers, reach 4 cm in diameter. In some species they even emit a scent.
Since this perennial plant is a native of warm countries, in our latitudes it grown as an annual. However, the vine blooms for a long time - from July until frost. As a perennial, you can grow ampelous thunbergia at home.
Cultivated vines are presented four most popular types.
Thunbergia fragrant is an evergreen vine that grows up to six meters. Its ovate leaves are dark green above and light green below with a white vein in the middle. Single flowers up to 5 cm in diameter have a white tint and a pleasant aroma.
Thunbergia grandiflora or blue is distinguished by climbing shoots and bright green leaves with large teeth along the edges. Small-flowered inflorescences consist of purple or blue flowers with a white spot in the throat.
Thunbergia Battiscombe is a vine with wide leaves and blue flowers, the petals of which have a clearly visible net.
Thunbergia winged or Black Susanna is a very popular annual plant. Its long vine-like stems are strewn with single flowers of various shades. In the center of each flower there is a dark purple eye, which is why this plant species is called “Black-Eyed Suzanne”. The most famous varieties of Thunbergia winged and used for decorating the site are:
The plant cannot be planted directly into open ground. This is explained by the fact that sowing should be early, and this very heat-loving flower does not tolerate even the slightest cold snap. In order for the vine to bloom on time, the seeds should be sown at the end of February. Therefore, first, thunbergia seedlings are grown, which in due course are planted in open ground.
The seeds of the plant germinate very poorly, so to stimulate growth it is recommended to treat them in “ Epine" To avoid disturbing the roots of the seedlings during transplantation, it is best to plant the seeds in peat tablets or cups. In this case, plants in open ground will take root faster.
An earthen mixture for sowing thunbergia seeds should be prepared from leaf soil and sand, with the addition of a small part of humus. The seeds are planted in moist soil to a depth of 1-1.5 cm. If sowing is done in boxes, then the distance between the seeds should be at least 3-5 cm. Almost all of the seeds treated with Epin should sprout, so there is sufficient space between them distance so that later they do not need to be thinned out.
Peat cups or seedling containers, after planting seeds in them, are covered with glass or cellophane and put away in a warm place with an air temperature of at least +20 degrees. Under such conditions, the first shoots should appear in about two weeks. At lower temperatures, seeds can hatch only 20-25 days after sowing.
If the seeds were planted close to each other, then when two true leaves appear, they will need to be planted or thinned out. Young bushes 12-15 cm high pinch the tops. After this procedure, the plant will begin to branch intensively.
When growing seedlings, do not forget to water them regularly. It is necessary to feed seedlings only if a thick and powerful mass is needed. To do this, it is recommended to feed thunbergia with nitrogen-containing fertilizers every week. But in order for the plant to bloom for a long time and luxuriantly in the future, the seedlings do not need to be fed at all.
Young vine bushes are planted in open ground only after the spring frosts have ended. The site for it must be chosen on the western, eastern or southern side. This should be a place protected from the wind, slightly shaded.
The soil for thunbergia should be:
The distance between the holes should be at least 30-45 cm. Immediately upon planting, supports in the form of a lattice or wire are installed near the vine. The seedlings planted in the ground are watered, and the soil around them is covered with mulch. In this case, there will be practically no weeds near the bushes. Thunbergia blooms approximately 90-100 days after pinching.
A plant planted in open ground will quickly take root and grow. Caring for it is quite simple, but has its own nuances:
These are all the features of caring for thunbergia. Even an inexperienced gardener can cope with growing an amazingly beautiful vine.
With proper care and watering, the plant is resistant to pests and diseases. However, prolonged waterlogging of the soil can lead to mold. If the foliage on the vine begins to grow very rarely, it means the plant lacking nutrients. Overdrying of the soil leads to the fall of buds and flowers.
The most dangerous pests for Thunbergia are whiteflies, spider mites and aphids, which suck out the juices of the plant. If the leaves turn yellow and a sticky coating appears on them, the bush should be carefully examined. If pests are found on it, urgent treatment is required. From folk remedies use a solution of alcohol and laundry soap (1:1).
Thunbergia is considered the best plant not only for decorating gardens. With its help you can decorate a balcony, loggia or a separate corner in the apartment. The advantage of the vine is that it grows quickly and blooms beautifully, is strewn with attractive foliage and is easy to care for.
Thunbergia is part of the Acanthaceae family. The tropics of Africa are considered its homeland. There are approximately 200 species. The plant was named in honor of the Swedish naturalist Carl Peter Thunberg. The flower also has another name - “black-eyed suzanna”. I call it that because of the color of the middle of the flower – dark purple. This plant is grown both at home and in the garden.
Thunbergia is a liana-like or shrubby plant. Leaves are entire, heart-shaped or ovate. There are also lobed opposite leaves. They reach up to 10 cm in length. Some plant species have jagged leaves. Thunbergia flowers reach up to 4 cm in diameter and are collected in inflorescences. The plant also has different flower colors, ranging from white to brown. It blooms from July to September, emitting a strong aroma. In its natural environment, the plant is considered a perennial, but in our region it is an annual and is more often used for landscaping. Thunbergia feels great at home and in greenhouses. 
Thunbergia is an unpretentious plant, and if you decide to grow it at home, you will need to fulfill a few simple conditions for the flower to develop well.
Seed propagation of thunbergia can begin either at the end of winter (February) or at the beginning of spring (March).
Did you know? Often the liana is used for alcohol and drug addiction, preparing tea with its leaves, which is called rang-jud. With its help you can cope with hangover syndrome, as well as other harmful addictions.
Thunbergia seeds have poor germination, so they must first be soaked in the Epin growth stimulator. This will help them sprout faster and better.
The soil mixture should be made from leaf soil and sand with the addition of humus. Despite the fact that the seeds contain a certain supply of nutrients, it is still better to fertilize them with compost with the addition of sand and peat. Also, the soil should be loose, light and quickly allow moisture to pass through.
For sowing, we recommend using ceramic flat or disposable peat pots. They must have drainage holes. When you are going to sow thunbergia, first rinse the containers, and the day before sowing, you need to water the earthen mixture.
First you need to plant the seeds in pots with peat to a depth of 1.5 cm and water the soil. After this, the container must be covered with film to create a greenhouse effect. This way the seedlings will develop faster. You need to leave the seeds in this container for 2-3 weeks. It is important to note that the pots need to be ventilated to remove condensation.
Important! Monitor watering, as excess moisture can cause seedlings to rot.
As soon as you notice the first shoots, the film can be removed. If a large number of sprouts appear, they all need to be picked.
The seedlings should be placed on a windowsill with windows facing west or east, but it is important to provide diffused light, since the crown of the plant can get burned from direct rays of the sun. The best temperature for thunbergia in spring and summer should be up to 25 ° C. In autumn it is better to stick to 17 °C. In summer you need to water the plant often. You can determine when to water the plant by looking at the top layer of the soil mixture. Watering should be done with soft, settled water.
Important! Avoid stagnation of water in the pan.
In hot weather, you need to add spraying with settled water at room temperature. In autumn it is better to reduce watering. The plant needs to be fertilized from spring to autumn. This should be done every 3 weeks, with mineral fertilizers. When two leaves appear, the seedlings need to be thinned and pruned. Strong plants should remain in the container. When thunbergia seedlings grow to 15 cm, you need to pinch the top of the seedlings.
If you want to get a thick and powerful thunbergia, the seedlings need to be fertilized from the first picking once a week with fertilizers that contain nitrogen. If you want to get abundant and long-lasting flowering, we recommend not fertilizing the seedlings.
After you have planted thunbergia seedlings, and enough time has passed for the normal development of the plant, they can be transplanted into open ground.
Did you know? Preparations that contain organic acids contained in thunbergia slow down the aging process and patch damaged DNA cells. It helps well with food poisoning, treatment of diabetes and other endocrine diseases.
Thunbergia should be picked in mid-May, when the last spring frosts have passed. At this time, the seedlings will get stronger and will be ready for a new place in the garden. It is best to plant thunbergia seedlings in open ground in spring or early summer.
The place for thunbergia should be draft-free and with good lighting, on the western, southern or eastern side. The soil should be light and permeable. It should have enough nutrients and lime. It should also be well-drained and neutral. The soil needs to be loosened and fertilized with humus or special means.
The distance between the beds should be at least 20 cm, and between the holes - 45 cm. This is done so that the plant grows in breadth. Before planting, you need to install supports in the form of a lattice. A vine will grow along it.
Then seedlings of climbing thunbergia are planted. This must be done carefully so as not to damage the young plants. Planting depth is 1.5 cm. Then the plant needs to be sprinkled with earth and tamped down a little.
After planting the seedlings, you need to water the plants and cover the soil with mulch. This will help get rid of those pesky weeds. You can see the first flowering 100 days after pinching.
Thunbergia is an unpretentious plant, so if the planting was successful and the plant has taken root, you can begin caring for it.
Did you know? On the Malay Peninsula, compresses made from thunbergia leaves are used to cure skin problems: boils, cuts, ulcers.
Thunbergia loves watering, but you need to keep an eye on it. During flowering, the earthen lump should not dry out, as the leaves will begin to fall off and the flower may be damaged by spider mites. As soon as flowering ends, watering should be reduced. In dry summers, you need to not only water the thunbergia, but also spray it in the evenings.
Mandatory fertilizing is applied during the budding period, but it is better not to overdo it. Such conditions will bring you lush flowering. During flowering, mineral fertilizers must be applied. They are added to irrigation water every week.
In spring and summer, liquid mineral fertilizers need to be applied every month during active growth.
Important! If you “overfeed” the plant, the leaves will be gorgeous, but the flowering will become sparse.
Pruning is carried out in early spring or February. You can also do this after flowering. In order for the plant to take the form of a bush, you need to pinch the tops.
Young plants need to be pruned, but older plants should be left alone. Only weak shoots or too thick shoots should be removed. You need to cut at the very base and always point in the direction you need.
Young plants need pruning to promote vigorous growth, but this may reduce flowering.
When the flowering of thunbergia ends, seed pods will appear in their place. They must be collected immediately before they open, because the seeds may scatter on the ground. It is better to open the boxes over a table covered with paper - the seeds will spill out onto it. Then they need to be dried and stored in cardboard boxes. The shelf life of seeds is 2 years.
If you grew thunbergia in an open area, it should be disposed of in the fall, as it will not survive the winter. If you grew the plant at home in a large pot, you need to trim the shoots.
