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Black-eyed Susan vine
Photo: Bff / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Flowers and bulbs

Black-eyed Susan vine

Thunbergia alata · Acanthus family (Acanthaceae)

At a glance
Hardiness zones9 to 11
Sunfull sun to part shade
Watermoderate
Life cycletender perennial (grown as an annual)
FrostTender: killed by frost
Spacing14 to 16 inches
Soil temperature to plantat least 60°F

About Black-eyed Susan vine

Black-eyed Susan vine is a tender twining vine from tropical East and southern Africa with flat, five-petaled flowers, usually bright orange or yellow with a dark eye, plus white, apricot and pink kinds. It suits trellises, mailboxes, window boxes and hanging baskets, and butterflies, bees and hummingbirds visit it (NC State, Wisconsin). Despite the name it isn't related to the black-eyed Susan daisy (Rudbeckia); it reseeds and has gone wild in frost-free places such as Hawaii.

Hardy only in about zones 9-11 (Wisconsin, NC State); grown as a summer annual elsewhere. Rated high risk for invasiveness in Hawaii (advisory), and it can turn weedy wherever there's no frost.

When to plant

Timing is counted from your average last spring frost (and first fall frost). Sow & Tell works out the actual dates for your ZIP code.

Soak seed overnight and start indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost; seeds sprout in 10-21 days. Set plants 14-16 inches apart by a support after frost, once nights stay above 50 F, or sow outdoors when the soil reaches 60 F (transplants do better in short northern summers) (Wisconsin, Iowa State). No sourced count from sowing to bloom. To keep one over winter, bring a potted plant into a sunny, warm room with nights above 60 F (Wisconsin).

Soil

Rich, moist, well-drained soil high in organic matter; it wilts fast when dry (NC State, Arkansas Extension).

Rich, moist, well-drained soil high in organic matter (NC State, Wisconsin).

Feeding

Don't let it dry out: it wilts quickly, and spider mites get worse on dry, stressed plants in midsummer (Arkansas Extension).

Harvest

Blooms from June or midsummer until frost, often best in late summer when nights cool (Clemson, Wisconsin, Iowa State). Trim overly long shoots to keep it tidy and push more blooms (Arkansas Extension).

Varieties (15)

VarietyType DaysNotes
A-Peel seriesThunbergia alataVigorous, large-flowered vines 5-8 ft; includes Lemon, Orange, Coconut and Tangerine Slice, with rusty orange, yellow-edged, dark-eyed flowers.
African SunsetThunbergia alataSeed mix with apricot, buff, cream and brick-red flowers with dark eyes; vines to about 5 ft.
Amber EyesThunbergia alataLarge amber-yellow flowers with big dark eyes; vines to about 5 ft.
Angel WingsThunbergia alataWhite flowers with a light scent.
Blushing SusieThunbergia alataMix of apricot and rose flowers with dark centers.
Bright EyesThunbergia alataAll-white flowers.
Pure WhiteThunbergia alataPure white flowers.
Raspberry SmoothieThunbergia alataPale lilac-pink flowers over gray-green leaves.
Spanish EyesThunbergia alataMuted apricot, terra cotta, salmon, rose and ivory flowers with dark centers.
Superstar OrangeThunbergia alataExtra-large bright orange flowers.
Susie MixThunbergia alataOrange, yellow and white flowers, with or without dark eyes; vines to about 7 ft.
Arizona GlowThunbergia alata, Sunny seriesRed-orange flowers with dark eyes on vigorous 6-8 ft vines.
Lemon StarThunbergia alata, Sunny seriesBright yellow flowers; vines 6-8 ft.
Orange WonderThunbergia alata, Sunny seriesVivid orange flowers with dark eyes; vines 6-8 ft.
Rose SensationThunbergia alata, Sunny seriesRose flowers with dark eyes; vines 6-8 ft.

Pests to watch for

Twospotted spider mite, Whiteflies, Scale insects

In the kitchen

Pets: Not listed by the ASPCA.

Sources

Photo: Photo: Bff / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (CC BY-SA 4.0). Photo resized for the web.

Planting dates and advice are general guidance; check with your local Cooperative Extension office for your area.