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Distictis laxiflora 'Vanilla Orchid' (Vanilla Trumpet Vine) - This is a moderately fast-growing evergreen vine reaching 30 feet tall and wide with compound leaves having three leaflets and showy fragrant lavender flowers that fade to light lavender and then nearly pure white throughout the warm months. It looks a bit like Distictis 'Rivers' but has a slightly more delicate look about it and the blooms fade to white and it has a pleasant vanilla scent that is lacking on Distictis 'Rivers'.
Plant in full sun to part shade and water occasionally in the summer. It is hardy to about 25-30 degrees F. If it is well established, it should regenerate from the roots if it freezes down to the ground. A beautiful vine that emits a wonderful fragrance in summer months.
Distictis laxiflora is native to southern Mexico and while it has long been known as Distictis laxiflora, the current name listed in the Kew database is Amphilophium laxiflorum. We continue to list this plant as Distictis laxiflora until such time as this name change has wider acceptance.
Distictis laxiflora was introduced into cultivation in California by Dr. Francesco Franceschi (AKA Emanuele Orazio Fenzi) in 1908. We originally acquired this beautiful vine in 1986 from Bernard Acquistapace, owner of Pianta Bella Nursery, who propagated it by taking cuttings off of a plant growing in a Montecito estate. We planted it on the pergola when we moved to our new sales office in 1987 and this plant overhangs our office structure to this day (mixed with the related Pithecoctenium crucigerum). For many years we have grown a selected plant from a seedling this plant produced that we called Distictis laxiflora (SMG select form) but were rarely successful with cuttings taken from the original plant. In 2003 a cutting grown plant of it was planted into our greenhouse and from this stock growing in our greenhouse we were able to successfully root cuttings of this wonderful plant that we call Distictis laxiflora ''Vanilla Orchid' to not confuse it with the select seedling form.
The information displayed on this page about Distictis laxiflora 'Vanilla Orchid' is based on the research we have conducted about it in our nursery library as well as from information provided by reliable online resources. We also include our own observations made about this plant as it grows in the nursery gardens and other gardens visited, as well how the crops of this plant have performed in the containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments that we have received from others and welcome hearing from anyone with information about this plant, particularly if it includes cultural information that will aid others to better grow it.
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