Petrea volubilis, purple wreath - Photographs of Australia€¦ · PETREA VOLUBILIS. By Stephanie...
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PETREA VOLUBILIS By Stephanie Jackson Mauve is not my favour- ite colour, but when Petrea vol- ubilis is in full bloom and a viv- id splash of mauve dominates the garden landscape, there’s no hint of complaint from me. e racemes of small star- shaped mauve flowers that are sur- rounded by blue bracts and that cover this evergreen woody vine in spring almost hide its light green leaves, and it’s this foliage, which has the rough texture of sandpaper, that has earned P. volubilis the common name of ‘Sandpaper Vine’. It’s also frequently referred to by its other colloquial name of ‘Purple Wreath’. is is unquestionably a beautiful plant when in flower, but if you’re considering adding it to your garden, take plenty of time to think about what you’re doing and to con- sider what this vigorous climber might do in the future if you don’t want to make a decision that you live to regret. With its unruly ways, the sandpaper vine needs a firm hand to keep it under control, and if you don’t want to eventually hear that dreaded phase, ‘Why did you plant that damned thing?’, you’ll have to practise a little bit of tough love. It requires a sturdy fence, trellis, or archway on which to grow, and believe me, it won’t take long to cover anything that’s within its sprawling stems. If leſt uncontrolled it can grow to a height of around 10 metres and a width of around 6 me- tres, and with its habit of suckering, nothing seems to be beyond its reach. Once established in well-draining soil this drought toler- ant plant, which thrives in sub-tropi- cal and tropical climates, requires no water other than that which Mother Nature provides. In a location where it receives plenty of sunlight it will provide a stunning floral display. Children, and big kids too, oſten like to toss the dry bracts of the dead flowers into the air where they twirl like elegant bal- lerinas before spiralling down to the earth, but once the pleasures of the flowering period have come to an end, there’s work to be done. Although pruning is the most essential task to control the vigorous growth of Petrea volubi- lis, it’s also important to keep an eye open for any signs that it has migrated, via suckering, to an- other area of the garden where it may be less than welcome. Fortunately, it’s almost immune to any attacks from in- sect pests and diseases, and that’s one more good reason to add a dash of mauve to the garden.
Petrea volubilis, purple wreath - Photographs of Australia€¦ · PETREA VOLUBILIS. By Stephanie Jackson. auve is not my M favour-ite colour, but when Petrea vol-ubilis is in full
