Bignonia capreolata, commonly called Crossvine, is a semi-evergreen vine in the Trumpet Vine family, Bignoniaceae. It is native to the Southeastern and Southcentral United States. In Maryland, it is primarily found in the Coastal region. In the wild, it grows in swampy woodlands, moist forests, on fencerows, and along sunny shorelines.

Crossvine thrives in rich, well-drained soils. It grows and blooms best in full sun but tolerates some shade. These vines can grow up to 50′ feet tall, often clinging to trees by twining tendrils around the tree’s trunk. The leaves are a dark, lustrous green, and may turn red or purple colder conditions. In addition, the foliage is evergreen, though in harsh winters the vine may die back to the ground before growing again from its roots in the Spring. The 2″ long trumpet shaped flowers appear in groups of two to five, and are hues of bright red, orange, and yellow. In Maryland, they bloom from May to June.

Bignonia capreolata is one of Maryland’s showiest native flowers. Not only are they are a great addition to pollinator gardens, but also grow well on large trellises, arbors, or along fences and walls. However, gardeners be warned: Crossvine has a high flammability rating, so take care if you choose to plant them close to your home. Also, because of their aggressive growing habit, you may need to prune them to maintain your desired size. You can easily cut back plants that have grown too large immediately after the plant has finished blooming.

Crossvine in Bloom

Crossvine scaling up a tree

Wildlife Benefits

Crossvine is an excellent source of nectar for butterflies, and is especially good at attracting hummingbirds. Deer browse the foliage, and even beavers have been known to eat the leaves. Bignonia capreolata is also a host plant for a number of moths and butterflies, including the Rustic Sphinx Moth (Manduca rustica) and Gray Hairstreak Butterfly (Strymon melinus).