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| Category: Vine |
| Family: Acanthaceae (Acanthus¹) |
| Origin: Africa, Central (Africa) |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Bloomtime: Year-round |
| Height: Climbing (Vine) |
| Width: Spreading |
| Exposure: Sun or Shade |
| Deer Tolerant: Yes |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Medium Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 25-30° F |
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Thunbergia alata (Black-eyed Susan) - An attractive and cheerful evergreen vine that sprawls along the ground and clambers up on anything that will support it. The twining stems will reach 6-8 feet and are covered with triangular-shaped leaves that have winged petioles and nearly year-round, but strongest from summer through fall, orange tubular flowers that have dark purple, almost black throats. This plant is often treated as an annual in areas where it is killed by temperatures much below 28° F but in near frost-free zones it can be a perennial. Plant in sun or part shade and water regularly. Thunbergia alata comes from South Africa, and though similar to its tropical African relative, the Orange Clock Vine (Thunbergia gregorii), this plant is easily disguisable by the dark-centered eye of the flower and the winged petioles. The name for the genus honors the Swedish naturalist Carl Peter Thunberg (1743-1828) who was a student of Linnaeus and spent several years botanizing the Cape of Good Hope. The specific epithet is from the Latin word 'alatus' meaning "winged" in reference to the flattened wing like growth on the leaf petioles.
This description is based on research and observations of this plant as it grows in our nursery, in our nursery garden and in other gardens that we visit. We also incorporate comments received and appreciate getting feedback of any kind from those who have any additional information about this plant, particularly if they disagree with what we have written or if they have additional cultural tips that would aid others in growing Thunbergia alata.
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