Cross Vine
A native evergreen vine with clusters of trumpet-shaped flowers in orange-red that attract hummingbirds and butterflies in spring.
On this pageOverview
Meet Cross Vine
A native evergreen vine with clusters of trumpet-shaped flowers in orange-red that attract hummingbirds and butterflies in spring. Cross vine gets its name from the cross-shaped pattern visible when stems are cut. It climbs by tendrils and is less aggressive than trumpet vine, making it a better choice for residential gardens.
When to plant Cross Vine
Cross vine can be grown from seed collected from the slender pods in autumn. Cold-stratify seeds in moist sand for two to three months before sowing in spring. Seeds germinate within three to six weeks. Seedlings grow at a moderate pace and should be planted out after one full growing season. Plants from seed may take three to four years to flower. Cuttings and layering are faster propagation methods, producing flowering plants in two to three years.
Your Cross Vine Year
Composed for Zone 7 · typical seasons · frost passes Apr 2, returns Nov 1
Sow Cross Vine Mar – May, pick Apr – Jun. Set your climate below and every date on this plate re-times itself.
How to grow Cross Vine
Plant cross vine in spring or autumn in well-drained soil in full sun to partial shade. This native evergreen vine climbs by tendrils with adhesive discs and is less aggressive than its relative trumpet vine, making it more suitable for residential gardens. It reaches twenty to thirty feet and can cover walls, fences, and arbors with attractive foliage that turns purplish-bronze in winter.
Water regularly during the first two growing seasons to establish a deep root system. Once established, cross vine is moderately drought tolerant and performs well with minimal supplemental watering. The clusters of trumpet-shaped flowers appear in mid to late spring on the previous year's wood and are a major nectar source for hummingbirds and butterflies.
Prune immediately after flowering to control shape and size without sacrificing next year's bloom. Cross vine flowers primarily on old wood, so late-season pruning will reduce the spring flower display. In cold winters at the edge of its hardiness range, the foliage may be damaged but the roots typically survive and regenerate. The common name comes from the distinctive cross-shaped pattern visible when the stem is cut in cross-section.
Cross Vine needs more room than a 4 × 8 ft bed gives
Each Cross Vine wants 250 cm of elbow room. The planner keeps that spacing for you — every plant, every bed.
Cross Vine's best neighbours
Cross vine is an excellent companion for coral honeysuckle and trumpet vine in a hummingbird garden, providing spring bloom while the others flower later in summer. Train on walls with climbing hydrangea for a combination of spring color and summer lacecap flowers. Underplant with native ferns, woodland wildflowers, and spring bulbs that appreciate the dappled shade beneath the vine canopy.
Trumpet Vine belongs beside it.
Old growers' knowledge, checked against Cross Vine's real companion table below — test any plant you're growing.
Related growing guides
Feed it well
Cross vine adapts to a range of soils from sandy loam to clay with a pH of 5.5 to 7.0. It performs best in moist, fertile, well-drained soil but tolerates average conditions once established. Apply a balanced slow-release fertilizer in early spring. Mulch around the base with organic material to conserve moisture and suppress weeds. Avoid excessive nitrogen which promotes foliage growth at the expense of flowers.
Ideal Temperature
Hardiness Zone Compatibility
From seed to harvest, stage by stage
Seed Germination and Propagation
Cross-vine can be started from seed, though germination is irregular and can take several weeks. Seeds benefit from 60 days of cold-moist stratification at 4°C before sowing. Alternatively, semi-hardwood cuttings taken in summer or layering in spring are more reliable propagation methods and produce flowering plants sooner.
Seedling Establishment
Young plants develop their first compound leaves, each consisting of two lance-shaped leaflets and a central tendril that will later branch and develop adhesive discs. Root growth is vigorous at this stage as the plant builds the foundation for rapid future growth. Stems are green and flexible.
Juvenile Vine Growth
The vine begins to climb using its disc-tipped tendrils, attaching firmly to any available support. Growth can reach 3-5 meters in the first full growing season under good conditions. Leaves are glossy dark green above and paler beneath. The plant focuses energy on vegetative growth and establishing a strong root system rather than flowering.
Mature Vine and First Bloom
By the second or third year, the vine has developed woody lower stems and a dense canopy of semi-evergreen foliage. The first flower buds appear in late winter to early spring on old wood. Clusters of 2-5 trumpet-shaped flowers emerge at leaf axils and stem terminals, displaying the characteristic orange-red exterior with yellow throats.
Full Bloom
In mid to late spring, the mature vine erupts in a profuse display of tubular flowers that can nearly obscure the foliage. Each flower is 4-5 cm long and slightly fragrant, attracting hummingbirds, butterflies, and native bees. Peak bloom typically lasts 3-4 weeks. Some cultivars like 'Tangerine Beauty' produce especially vivid orange flowers, while 'Dragon Lady' offers deeper red tones.
Post-Bloom Growth and Seed Pod Development
After flowering, the vine produces elongated flattened seed pods 10-18 cm long. These ripen from green to brown through summer and fall, eventually splitting to release winged seeds that are dispersed by the wind. The vine continues vigorous vegetative growth throughout summer, potentially adding 3-6 meters of new growth per season on established plants.
Winter Semi-Dormancy
Cross-vine is semi-evergreen in USDA zones 7-9, retaining much of its foliage through mild winters, with leaves turning attractive reddish-purple tones. In zone 6 and colder areas, the vine may lose most or all leaves but typically regrows vigorously from the roots in spring. Established plants are hardy to approximately -18°C.
Sow stratified seeds in a well-draining mix and keep consistently moist at 18-24°C. Provide bright indirect light and expect sporadic germination over 2-6 weeks.
Caring for Cross Vine month by month
What to do each month for your Cross Vine
July
You are hereNo specific care tasks for this month.
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One email at the start of each month: what to sow, plant, and tackle right now — for your Cross Vine and everything growing around it. Plus a short starter course that helps you dodge the classic mistakes.
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Harvesting Cross Vine
Cut cross vine flower clusters for spring arrangements when the first trumpets have opened and buds are still developing. The orange-red flowers create eye-catching bouquets mixed with spring foliage and other flowers. Stems last about five days in water. The evergreen foliage can be cut year-round for greenery in arrangements, with the bronze-purple winter color being particularly attractive for holiday decorating.
assuming you sow when the window opens — set your real date
Pick Cross Vine promptly and the plant keeps producing.
Storage & Preservation
Cross vine is a hardy perennial vine requiring no special storage. Propagate by semi-ripe cuttings in midsummer, which root reliably in four to six weeks with rooting hormone and bottom heat. Layering is also effective by pinning down a low stem and covering with soil. Seeds can be collected from the long, slender pods in autumn and sown in spring after cold stratification. Root cuttings taken in late autumn also work well.
What goes wrong — and the fix
Leaf Spot
DiseaseBrown or dark spots on leaves, occasionally causing premature leaf drop in wet seasons. Usually cosmetic rather than harmful.
Spider Mites
PestFine stippling on leaves, bronzing of foliage, tiny webs on leaf undersides during hot, dry summer conditions.
Troubleshooting Common Problems
The most common issue is reduced flowering caused by too much shade or heavy pruning at the wrong time. Since cross vine blooms on old wood, prune only immediately after the spring flowering period. In cold winters, the evergreen foliage may brown and look shabby, but it is quickly replaced by fresh growth in spring. The adhesive discs can leave marks on painted surfaces, so consider this when choosing a wall planting location.
Growing Tips
- Plant cross-vine in full sun to partial shade. The vine blooms most profusely with at least 4-6 hours of direct sunlight, but tolerates considerable shade in its native woodland habitat with reduced flowering.
- Provide a sturdy permanent support structure from the start. Cross-vine becomes heavy and woody with age and can overwhelm lightweight trellises. Steel cables, masonry walls, heavy wooden arbors, and chain-link fences are ideal.
- Cross-vine tolerates a wide range of soil types including clay, loam, and sandy soils, but performs best in moist, well-drained, slightly acidic to neutral soil with a pH of 5.5-7.0.
- Water new plants deeply once per week during the first two growing seasons to establish a strong root system. Once established, cross-vine is moderately drought-tolerant and needs supplemental water only during extended dry spells.
- Prune immediately after spring flowering finishes, typically in late May or early June. Flowers form on old wood, so late-season or winter pruning removes the following spring's flower buds.
- To control the spread of an aggressive vine, remove root suckers as they appear and cut back stems growing beyond the desired area. Cross-vine can be kept to a manageable size with annual post-bloom pruning.
- Fertilize sparingly. One light application of balanced slow-release fertilizer in early spring is sufficient for most situations. Over-fertilization promotes excessive vegetative growth at the expense of flowers.
- Choose cultivars suited to your goals: 'Tangerine Beauty' offers the most vivid orange flowers and improved hardiness, 'Atrosanguinea' provides deeper red-purple blooms, and 'Dragon Lady' has reddish flowers with a compact habit.
- Propagate by semi-hardwood cuttings in midsummer for the most reliable results. Select 10-15 cm stem sections from the current season's growth, strip lower leaves, apply rooting hormone, and place in a perlite and peat mix under high humidity.
- In colder areas of zone 6, plant cross-vine against a south-facing wall for maximum winter protection and reflected heat. The thermal mass of masonry walls can raise the microclimate by one full hardiness zone.
Pick your Cross Vine
Tangerine Beauty
The most widely available cultivar with abundant tangerine-orange flowers and a compact growth habit, excellent for residential gardens.
Atrosanguinea
Deep red-purple flowers that are darker and more richly colored than the species, striking against light-colored walls.
Dragon Lady
A vigorous selection with deep orange-red flowers and improved cold hardiness, reliable in zone 5.
A single cross-vine plant typically costs $10-20 at a native plant nursery and can cover a 6-10 meter fence or wall within 3-4 years, replacing the need for expensive privacy screening, artificial shade structures, or multiple ornamental shrubs that might cost $200-500 to achieve similar coverage. The vine's longevity of 20+ years, minimal fertilizer requirements, and ability to attract pollinators that benefit nearby food gardens make it an exceptionally cost-effective landscape investment. Additionally, the passive cooling shade it provides on south-facing walls can noticeably reduce summer air conditioning costs.
Quick recipes
Cross-Vine Flower Nectar Hummingbird Water
10 minutesWhile cross-vine itself is not edible, its presence in the garden replaces the need for artificial hummingbird feeders. To supplement natural nectar during non-bloom periods, make this simple feeder solution to attract the same hummingbirds your cross-vine supports.
4 ingredients
Cross-Vine Companion Herb Bundle
15 minutesCross-vine pairs beautifully in the garden with culinary herbs. Create a fresh herb bundle from companion plants grown alongside your cross-vine for a fragrant kitchen bouquet garni.
5 ingredientsPollinator Garden Wildflower Honey Spread
5 minutesCelebrate the pollinator-friendly garden your cross-vine anchors by pairing local wildflower honey — potentially produced by the very bees visiting your vine — with fresh herbs for an easy appetizer spread.
5 ingredientsWhat's inside
Health Benefits
- Cross-vine flowers provide critical early-season nectar for ruby-throated hummingbirds and native bee species, directly supporting pollinator health and garden biodiversity.
- The dense semi-evergreen foliage creates natural green screens that reduce noise pollution, buffer wind, and filter airborne particulates in residential landscapes.
- Growing cross-vine on walls, arbors, and pergolas provides passive cooling shade that can lower summer surface temperatures by 10-15°C, reducing energy costs and heat-related stress.
- The vine's extensive root system stabilizes soil on slopes and stream banks, preventing erosion and improving watershed health in residential and naturalistic landscapes.
- As a low-maintenance native plant, cross-vine eliminates the need for chemical herbicides and pesticides commonly used on traditional lawn areas, reducing household chemical exposure.
- Spending time in gardens with flowering native vines like cross-vine has been associated with reduced stress, improved mood, and enhanced well-being through biophilic interaction with local ecosystems.
Where Cross Vine comes from
Cross-vine (Bignonia capreolata) is a vigorous woody vine native to the southeastern and south-central United States, ranging from Maryland and Virginia south through Florida and west to Texas and Missouri. It thrives in the rich alluvial soils of river bottomlands, moist woodlands, and forest margins, where it can be found climbing to the tops of tall hardwoods using its distinctive disc-tipped tendrils. The species was first formally described by Linnaeus in 1753, placed in the genus Bignonia, which honors Abbé Jean-Paul Bignon, an eighteenth-century French librarian and patron of botany. For many decades, cross-vine was the sole North American representative remaining in the genus Bignonia, as other species were reclassified into separate genera. Indigenous peoples of the southeastern woodlands were well acquainted with this vine long before European botanists arrived. The Cherokee and other groups used preparations of the bark and roots as traditional remedies, and the tough, flexible stems found use in weaving and cordage. European settlers and early American gardeners recognized the ornamental potential of cross-vine by the mid-1800s, particularly for covering arbors, fences, and walls. However, it was not until the late twentieth century that targeted cultivar selection elevated the plant's popularity in the nursery trade. Notable selections including 'Tangerine Beauty,' developed by renowned horticulturist Michael Dirr at the University of Georgia, brought improved flower color and garden performance to the market. Today, cross-vine is valued both as a wildlife plant and a low-maintenance ornamental vine well suited to naturalistic and pollinator-friendly garden designs across USDA hardiness zones 6 through 9.
Cross Vine: did you know?
Fascinating facts about Cross Vine
The common name 'cross-vine' comes from the distinctive cross or plus-sign pattern visible when you cut through the stem, caused by the arrangement of the vascular bundles in the woody tissue.
Cross Vine questions, answered
When should I plant Cross Vine?
What are good companion plants for Cross Vine?
What hardiness zones can Cross Vine grow in?
How much sun does Cross Vine need?
How far apart should I space Cross Vine?
What pests and diseases affect Cross Vine?
How do I store Cross Vine after harvest?
What are the best Cross Vine varieties to grow?
What soil does Cross Vine need?
Will cross-vine damage my brick or stone walls?
How do I tell cross-vine apart from trumpet vine (Campsis radicans)?
Is cross-vine invasive?
Why is my cross-vine not flowering?
Can cross-vine grow in a container?
What wildlife does cross-vine support?
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From the “Overview” sectionPlant these alongside Cross Vine
More Climbing Flowers
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