Mary Claire Rowe

Introducing the “Blue Glory!’’

This tropical African native with its exquisite, blue-purple blossom with the glowing, golden-yellow throat will certainly charm any one that beholds it.

It is a great companion to the more well known Black-eyed Susan vine, Thunbergia alata.

These vines are also called Clock Vines. When the Susan vine is beginning to fade, the Blue Glory will just be starting, and should bloom all summer.

It is perennial in Zone 8, which is the southern half of Smith County. With proper mulch and in a fairly protected location, it should winter over in a mild winter. It is certainly worth taking the chance.

It is a beautiful addition to any garden.

Now that the rains seem to have abated and the humidity and heat have returned, gardening will be a real challenge. Attacking the weeds in the early mornings with a large portable fan blowing across the area will certainly make it tolerable.

Gardening is not for the weak-willed. It is definitely a contact sport. Cheers!

PLANT FAST FACTS

Growth Habit: Trained on trellis 6 to 7 feet, or left on ground to mound.

Bloom Time: Continuous from June through frost.

Temperature: Warm.

Hardiness: Upper 20’s.

Water Needs: moderate drinker and needs frequent application of light feed with each flush of blossoms.

Bloom size: 2 to 3 inches.

Exposure: Full sun or part shade. Will take most soils as long as well-drained.
Pronounced: (thun-BER-jee-uh bat tis COMB ee)

“What’s Blooming In Our Garden’’ is a regular feature of the Tyler Morning Telegraph Garden Page. It is written by Mary Claire Rowe, a Master Gardener with the Texas Cooperative Extension, and focuses on flowers and plant life around East Texas. To share your comments on gardening, write her in care of the Morning Telegraph.

Mary Claire Rowe
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