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Thunbergia mysorensis (Brick & Butter Vine) - This evergreen twining vine can grow to 16-25 feet tall by at least as wide with a dense covering of glossy plastic-like dark green lanceolate 4- to 6-inch-long leaves. From the leaf axils emerge the two lipped flowers that have red calyces and a floral tube with a 3-inch-tall gapping mouth that is yellow along the edges and down the throat with red reflexed petals. The flowers dangle down from the foliage on ever elongating slender inflorescences, often 3 feet or more long, and in mild winter climates these flowers can be present year-round.
Plant in full sun or part shade and train up on a strong structure. Water occasionally to regularly. It is cold hardy to around 28° F but seems to not like cold wet soils. This vine is fantastic for a high pergola where the pendant flowers can dip down to be viewed from below. Sweet nectar is produced in copious quantities, attracting hummingbirds.
Thunbergia mysorensis comes from the forests of Southern India where it grows in the forests at elevations up to 3,000 feet. The genus name honors the Swedish physician and botanist, Carl Peter Thunberg (1743-1828), who was a protégé of Linnaeus. The specific epithet is in reference to Mysore, a city in southern India. This plant is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful vines in the world and received the prestigious Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit in 1993. Other common names including Indian Clock Vine, Mysore Clock Vine, Lady Slipper Vine and Dolls Shoes. Though never looking that attractive in the nursery container, once established it can be an incredible vine and a beautiful specimen graced the patio on the side of our nursery office for many years until a cold wet year took it out. We have grown this strangely wonderful plant since 1996.
This information about Thunbergia mysorensis displayed is based on research conducted in our horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also will relate observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments that we receive from others and we welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share any cultural information that would aid others in growing it.
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