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| ## crossvine {#crossvine .Title-Header}                               |
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| *Bignonia capreolata* L.                                              |
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| Plant Symbol = BICA                                                   |
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Contributed by: USDA NRCS National Plant Data Center

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##### Alternate Names  {#alternate-names .Header-3}

*Anisostichus capreolata, Anisostichus crucigera*, *Bignonia capreolata*
forma *lutea, Bignonia capreolata* var. *atrosanguinea, Doxantha
capreolata*, quartervine, trumpet flower.

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##### Uses {#uses .Header-3}

*Ethnobotanic:* Native Americans used crossvine as a remedy for numerous
health ailments. An infusion of leaves was used to purify blood.
Decoctions of leaves were used for rheumatism. Decoctions of mashed bark
were used to alleviate edema and headaches. Individuals with diphtheria
gargled a mashed root infusion.

*Ornamental:* The showy, fragrant flowers and unique leaves of crossvine
make this plant appropriate for some gardening and landscaping needs. It
is often used as a cover for fences, arbors, walls, pillars or large
trellises and as a groundcover. It is often recommended as a native
ornamental alternative to non-native climbing vines.

*Wildlife:* The tubular flowers and large quantities of nectar produced
by crossvine are attractants for hummingbirds and butterflies.

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##### Legal Status {#legal-status .Header-3}

##### Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural Resources for this plant's current status (e.g. threatened or endangered species, state noxious status, and wetland indicator values). {#please-consult-the-plants-web-site-and-your-state-department-of-natural-resources-for-this-plants-current-status-e.g.-threatened-or-endangered-species-state-noxious-status-and-wetland-indicator-values. .Header-3}

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##### Weediness {#weediness .Header-3}

Crossvine can spread aggressively. This plant may become weedy or
invasive in some regions or habitats and may displace desirable
vegetation if not properly managed. Please consult with your local NRCS
Field Office, Cooperative Extension Service office, or state natural
resource or agriculture department regarding its status and use.

##### Description {#description .Header-3}

*General*: Bignonia family (Bignoniaceae). Crossvine is a perennial,
woody, semi-evergreen vine that can grow to be 17 m long. Tubers can
grow to 10 cm in diameter. The stem is squarish and reddish-purple.
Leaves are opposite, pinnately compound, and reduced to two basal
leaflets and a branched tendril between them. Leaflets are 6-15 cm long,
2-7 cm wide and have smooth edges (entire), narrowly tapered tips
(acuminate), and a notch at the base that makes them heart-shaped
(cordate). The foliage turns from a lustrous green in the growing season
to a reddish purple in the winter. Buds are reddish-purple and less than
1 cm long. Flowers are bell-shaped with orange on the outside and yellow
inside, have 5 irregular lobes, and are 4-5 cm long. The fruit is a
multi-seeded, flat capsule that is up to 15 cm long. Crossvine blooms
from mid-March to mid-June and sets fruit in late summer.

Crossvine gets its name from the cross-shaped pith, as seen from a
transverse section of the stem. Other key characteristics of crossvine
include its opposite compound leaves with two leaflets and branched
tendrils.

*Distribution*: Crossvine is native to the United States in the
northeastern, north central, south central, and southeastern regions. It
is found from southern Ontario, south to Florida, west to Texas and
Illinois. For current distribution, please consult the Plant Profile
page for this species on the PLANTS Web site (http://plants.usda.gov).

*Habitat*: Crossvine is found in rich forests and swamps and along
roadsides and fencerows.

##### Adaptation {#adaptation .Header-3}

The USDA hardiness zones for crossvine are 5-9. Although it is
semi-evergreen, it may lose its leaves during especially harsh winters
in zones 5 and 6.

Crossvine prefers full sun and moist, acidic, well-drained soils for
best flowering. It is adaptable to other soil conditions, including
poorly drained soils, once established and it can do well in low light
levels. It is drought tolerant.

##### Management {#management .Header-3}

##### If not properly managed, crossvine can spread quickly by root suckers and become problematic. Pruning will reduce aggressive growth if spread is not desired. {#if-not-properly-managed-crossvine-can-spread-quickly-by-root-suckers-and-become-problematic.-pruning-will-reduce-aggressive-growth-if-spread-is-not-desired. .Header-3}

##### Seeds and Plant Production {#seeds-and-plant-production .Header-3}

Crossvine can be propagated by seeds or cuttings. Pretreatment of seeds
is not necessary. Although a 90% germination rate can be expected,
seedling survival and growth may be low. Seedlings may need to harden in
winter temperatures before outplanting.

The species can be rooted at any time of the year but June or July
cuttings are generally recommended. Crossvine cuttings root easily, but
may take six to eight weeks.

##### Cultivars, Improved, and Selected Materials (and area of origin) {#cultivars-improved-and-selected-materials-and-area-of-origin .Header-3}

The NRCS Plant Materials Program has not released any cultivars of
crossvine for conservation use. Contact your local Natural Resources
Conservation Service (formerly Soil Conservation Service) office for
more information. Look in the phone book under "United States
Government". The Natural Resources Conservation Service will be listed
under the subheading "Department of Agriculture."

Ornamental cultivars of *Bignonia capreolata* include 'Atrosanguinea,'
'Dragon Lady,' 'Helen Fredel,' 'Jekyll,' 'Shalimar Red,' and 'Tangerine
Beauty.' These cultivars have been bred for flower color, flower and
leaf size, and winter hardiness.

##### References {#references .Header-3}

##### Agricultural Research Center. 2004. *GRIN taxonomy* (http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/index, 22 April 2004). USDA, Beltsville. {#agricultural-research-center.-2004.-grin-taxonomy-httpwww.ars-grin.govcgi-binnpgshtmlindex-22-april-2004.-usda-beltsville. .Header-3}

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##### Creech, D. 2004. *Plants page, SFA Mast Arboretum* (http://arboretum.sfasu.edu/plants/index.htm, 22 April 2004). Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches. {#creech-d.-2004.-plants-page-sfa-mast-arboretum-httparboretum.sfasu.eduplantsindex.htm-22-april-2004.-stephen-f.-austin-state-university-nacogdoches. .Header-3}

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##### Dirr, M.A. 2004. *Horticulture 3710 plant list: vines* (http://www.nobleplants.com/classnotes/spring/springprofiles/vines.htm, 22 April 2004). Noble Plants, Athens.  {#dirr-m.a.-2004.-horticulture-3710-plant-list-vines-httpwww.nobleplants.comclassnotesspringspringprofilesvines.htm-22-april-2004.-noble-plants-athens. .Header-3}

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##### Floridata. 2004. *Plant encyclopedia* (http://floridata.com, 22 April 2004). Floridata Marketplace, Tallahassee. {#floridata.-2004.-plant-encyclopedia-httpfloridata.com-22-april-2004.-floridata-marketplace-tallahassee. .Header-3}

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##### Johnson, F.L. and B.W. Hoagland. *Catalog of the woody plants of Oklahoma* (http://www.biosurvey.ou.edu/shrub/cover.htm, 22 April 2004). Oklahoma University, Norman. {#johnson-f.l.-and-b.w.-hoagland.-catalog-of-the-woody-plants-of-oklahoma-httpwww.biosurvey.ou.edushrubcover.htm-22-april-2004.-oklahoma-university-norman. .Header-3}

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##### Kemper Center for Home Gardening. 2004. *Kemper web, PlantFinder* (http://ridgwaydb.mobot.org/kemperweb/plantfinder/Alpha.asp, 22 April 2004). Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis. {#kemper-center-for-home-gardening.-2004.-kemper-web-plantfinder-httpridgwaydb.mobot.orgkemperwebplantfinderalpha.asp-22-april-2004.-missouri-botanical-garden-st.-louis. .Header-3}

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##### Lindstrom, J.T. 2002. *Bignonia capreolata* (http://www.uark.edu/campus-resources/cotinus/plants3_html/bigncapr.html, 22 April 2004). University of Arkansas, Fayetteville.  {#lindstrom-j.t.-2002.-bignonia-capreolata-httpwww.uark.educampus-resourcescotinusplants3_htmlbigncapr.html-22-april-2004.-university-of-arkansas-fayetteville. .Header-3}

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##### Manhart, J.R. 2004. *Texas A & M University Herbarium digital flora of Texas* (http://www.csdl.tamu.edu/FLORA/gallery1.htm, 22 April 2004). Texas A & M University, College Station. {#manhart-j.r.-2004.-texas-a-m-university-herbarium-digital-flora-of-texas-httpwww.csdl.tamu.edufloragallery1.htm-22-april-2004.-texas-a-m-university-college-station. .Header-3}

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##### Reed, D. 2002. *Wildflowers of the Southeastern United States* (http://2bnthewild.com/).  {#reed-d.-2002.-wildflowers-of-the-southeastern-united-states-http2bnthewild.com. .Header-3}

Stine, M. 2003. *Louisiana ecosystems and plant identification,*
(http://rnrstreamer.lsu.edu/ecosystems/webtour/, 22 April 2004). LSU
AgCenter, Baton Rouge.

##### Prepared By:  {#prepared-by .Header-3}

##### *Sarah Wennerberg* {#sarah-wennerberg .Header-3}

Formerly USDA NRCS National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

##### Species Coordinator:  {#species-coordinator .Header-3}

*Mark Skinner*

##### USDA NRCS National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana {#usda-nrcs-national-plant-data-center-baton-rouge-louisiana .Header-3}

##### Edited: 6May2004 sbw; 21Oct2004 rln; 31may06 jsp {#edited-6may2004-sbw-21oct2004-rln-31may06-jsp .Header-4}

For more information about this and other plants, please contact your
local NRCS field office or Conservation District, and visit the PLANTS
Web site\<[http://plants.usda.gov](http://plants.usda.gov/)\> or the
Plant Materials Program Web site
\<[http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov](http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov/)\>

*The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in
all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national
origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual
orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases
apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require
alternative means for communication of program information (Braille,
large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA\'s [TARGET
Center](http://www.usda.gov/oo/target.htm) at 202-720-2600 (voice and
TDD).*

*To file a complaint of discrimination write USDA, Director, Office of
Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence
Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call 202-720-5964 (voice or
TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.*

*Read about [Civil Rights at the Natural Resources Convervation
Service](http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/about/civilrights/).*