What is a Tecomanthe Vine?
Tecomanthe petticoat (Tecomanthe venusta) vine is also called New Guinea creeper, forest bell creeper, and New Guinea trumpet vine. The descriptive name of pink petticoat vine refers to the thickly decorated wiry stems that are coated with layers of the hot pink blooms. The plant is a fast growing evergreen vine with waxy leaves and thick flower clusters. It is a tropical plant that cannot withstand temperatures below freezing. Some tips on how to grow a pink petticoat vine should set you on the road to success, provided you don’t have any freezes in your region. You won’t long forget your first encounter with pink petticoat vine in bloom. Even when not in bloom, the lush foliage makes this a lovely plant but when the flowers appear, watch out! Dense clusters of narrow, bright pink blooms resemble swaying skirts of yesteryear. Vines can very quickly achieve lengths of 25 feet (8 m.) or more and will require pruning to prevent the complete takeover of an area. Growing petticoat vines requires a wall, trellis, fence, or other structure for the stems to clamber upon. The plant will self-support to some extent with the thick, wiry stems that twine around each other, creating strong material to elevate the plant.
Growing Petticoat Vines
Tecomanthe is a group of tropical rainforest plants. As such, they prefer low to medium light, humus rich soil, high humidity, and even moisture. Soil fertility should be quite high and in low nutrient soils, fertilizing annually is recommended. The plant thrives in USDA zones 10 to 11 but in cooler regions it can survive in microclimates or in protected situations with some extra care in case of freezing temperatures. Once the plant is mature, pink petticoat plant care is minimal with the exception of pruning to prevent overtaking of the garden space, occasional watering in summer, and feeding in early spring. In cold regions, grow the plant in a container and take it indoors for winter after pruning back the stems. Pink petticoat blooms from old wood, so you will not get as dramatic of a display the following year.
Pink Petticoat Plant Care
This is a remarkably self-sufficient vine. Few pests and disease issues occur. In fact, the biggest problem you may have are birds making their nests in the tangled stems. The best situation for this vine is in an area where it can be allowed to do its thing without much restraint. The elegant tangle is vigorous and may be considered by some to be invasive. If the plant is becoming a nuisance, cut back the stems severely. The plant will rally quickly and you will be able to train and manage it more effectively. Propagation is through cuttings in spring or by harvesting seed. Plants from seed can take up to five years or more before they bloom, while cuttings are much quicker. This is truly an eye-stopping specimen that will adorn your garden space for years with very little extra care.
