If you’re thinking about adding new flowers to your garden, Australian natives are the way to go.
If you’re not sure what to plant, consider one Australian climbing vine that gardeners say deserves more love. The Pandorea jasminoides (bower vine) is hardy, can handle dry weather, and will give you lots of beautiful flowers.
Even expert gardeners like Jon Lamb have recently started singing the praises of the Pandorea jasminoides plant.
“It’s taken time to happen, but the ornamental value of the Australian native pandorea is starting to be appreciated,” he wrote recently online.
“Because they are a native plant, most varieties have excellent tolerance to dry conditions and grow in most soil types that are well-drained.”
What is Pandorea jasminoides?
Pandorea jasminoides is an Australian native climber from the family Bignoniaceae, admired for its glossy evergreen foliage and showy flowers. Often called the bower vine or Bower of Beauty, it’s one of the most versatile vines you can add to your garden.
Pandorea jasminoides vs pandorea pandorana
Pandorea jasminoides
There are two main types of pandorea you’ll see in Aussie gardens. The first is the Pandorea jasminoides (the bower vine), which is perfect for smaller spaces. Once it gets going, it’ll cover about three to five metres with shiny, dark green leaves and big, tube-shaped flowers. The blooms come in pink, white, or yellow and look great from spring until late autumn.
The blooms come in pink, white, or yellow and look great from spring until late autumn. As a bonus, the bower vine’s flowers carry a light, sweet scent—a subtle perfume for your garden.
Pandorea pandorana
Pandorea pandorana (the wonga wonga vine) grows much faster and bigger, making it better suited for larger spaces. It can easily cover six metres or more, making it ideal for filling a big pergola, fence, or large trellis.
The flowers are a bit smaller (about three centimetres), but they grow in big bunches and look amazing in early spring.
Both are fantastic native climbers. But if you’re after something more manageable for a suburban garden or to train up a fence or pergola, jasminoides is the way to go.
Ideal position and planting tips
- Light: Full sun to part shade is best. The more sun you give it, the more flowers you’ll get.
- Soil: It prefers soil that doesn’t stay too wet, but it can grow in most types of soil.
- Climate: Grows well in warm and mild areas. Can handle a little bit of frost.
- Planting: Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball, mix in some compost, and water it thoroughly. Put mulch around the base to help keep the soil moist.
How to grow and care for Pandorea jasminoides
- Watering: Keep it watered while it’s getting started. Once it’s growing well, pandorea can tolerate dry weather, but it still appreciates a good soak every now and then during dry periods.
- Fertiliser: Feed in early spring with a fertiliser made for native plants to help them grow strong and produce more flowers.
- Support: Set up a trellis, fence, or pergola for it to climb. Pandorea naturally wraps around things and will quickly cover whatever you give it.
- Pruning: Trim lightly after flowering to control its size and shape. It grows back well after cutting, especially if the leaves start to look messy.
- Pests/disease: Generally low-maintenance; watch for aphids or scale on new growth.
How to grow pandoreas in your garden
Pandorea grows best in a sunny or partly shaded spot with soil that does not stay too wet. Dig a hole twice as wide as the roots, mix in some compost, and water it well. Give the vine a trellis, pergola, or fence to climb, as it naturally wraps around things and will quickly cover its support once it is growing well.
Keep the soil damp but not too wet while the plant is getting started, then reduce watering as it becomes accustomed to dry weather. Use a slow-release fertiliser that is safe for native plants in spring to help them grow and make more flowers. Put mulch around the base to keep the soil moist and prevent weeds, but keep the mulch away from the stem to prevent it from rotting. Trim the vine lightly after flowering to shape it and control its size.
How to grow Pandorea in a pot
Pandorea can also be grown in a big container or pot, making it an excellent choice for patios, balconies, or rental gardens. Choose a pot at least 40 to 50 centimetres wide with good drainage holes and fill it with a high-quality potting mix for native plants. Put the pot in full sun or part shade and add a trellis or other support for the vine to climb.
Pandorea grown in pots requires more frequent watering, especially during hot weather, as pots dry out faster than garden soil. Feed every six to eight weeks with a liquid fertiliser designed explicitly for flowering native plants to keep it looking healthy and encourage a profusion of flowers. Trim back messy stems after flowering to keep the plant neat and tidy.
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