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| Category: Vine |
| Family: Verbenaceae (Vervains) |
| Origin: Central America (North America) |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Flower Color: Violet |
| Bloomtime: Summer |
| Height: Climbing (Vine) |
| Width: Spreading |
| Exposure: Full Sun |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Medium Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 25-30° F |
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Petrea volubilis (Queen's Wreath) - Queen's Wreath is the common name for this unusual evergreen clambering vine, but it is also called Purple Wreath and Sandpaper Vine. The first names are in reference to the flowers and the later to the rough surface of the leaves. It is in the Verbena family (Verbenaceae) and comes from Central America where it can grow to great heights with support (25-40 ft) but in cultivation is more often seen as a espalier subject or a smaller vine. The 1 foot long raceme of flowers, resembling that of wisteria, appears in spring through early summer. The tubular blue flowers only last a few days but the larger and more showy bluish purple calyces remain, fading first to blue and finally to a pale gray color. The dark green foliage, with its gritty texture, acts as a foil to pale calyces, so that the floral display appears as pale stars on a dark background. Plant this beautiful vine in full sun or light shade and give regular irrigation throughout the warmer months of the year. As it is a tropical vine Petrea should be planted in near frost free gardens, although the plant in the nursery garden withstood the hard freeze of 1990, with temperatures in the high teens F. This plant was named by Linnaeus to honor of the young Lord Robert James Petre (1713 - 1742) of Ingatestone Hall in Essex, a patron of botany.
The description above is based on our research and observations of this plant growing in our nursery, in our own garden and in other gardens in the Santa Barbara area. We would appreciate hearing from anyone who has additional information about this plant, even if they disagree with what we have written.
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