THUNBERGIA MYSORENSIS - The Indian Clock vine

THUNBERGIA MYSORENSIS - The Indian Clock vine

Tropical vines such as Thunbergia mysorensis are absolutely essential when it comes to providing an exotic feel in any botanical garden. Now while you can't grow it outside in your typical northern European garden, it will grow in frost-free temperate climates, such as coastal Southern California and the warmer Mediterranean regions including southern Spain, Greece and Turkey.

THUNBERGIA MYSORENSIS - The Indian Clock vine

Of course, for those of you who still want to grow Thunbergia mysorensis then you can keep it outside for the warmer months of the year and then bring it under protection as a houseplant for the remaining cooler months. Make sure you have plenty of room though as this particular specimen can grow up to 20 ft long!

Commonly known as the 'Indian clock vine', Thunbergia mysorensis is a native to southern India, from the Nilgiri Mountains to Cape Comorin. In fact the variety name mysorensis is derived from the city of Mysore, Karnataka's second biggest city, situated in Southern India.

The most striking feature of the Indian clock vine are its dramatic and very large blooms. These hang in long racemes (an unbranched, elongated stem with stalked flowers), which can measure up to 90 cm in length.

These pendant hanging flowers bloom throughout most for the growing season from spring to autumn. Each individual flowers is curved shaped, and enhanced by their rich saturated yellow pigment with is heightened by the contrasting maroon to brownish red outer tip coloring. The flowers produce an abundance of sweet nectar which is attractive to sunbirds, and hummingbirds. This is a vital evolutionary adaptation because in its native habitat, the Indian Clock vine is pollinated by birds.

This plant gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit in 1993.

For related articles click onto the following links:
HOW TO GROW THE BLACK-EYED SUSAN VINE - Thunbergia alata
HOW TO GROW MINA LOBATA - The Spanish Flag
HOW TO GROW THUNBERGIA MYSORENSIS - The Indian Clock vine
THUNBERGIA MYSORENSIS - The Indian Clock vine