The orange trumpet-shaped flowers capture the attention of everyone who sees them. The variety growing at the station in Crystal Springs is called Tangerine Beauty. It is an improved selection over the native in the woods. Tangerine Beauty blooms for a little over a month during mid-April to May but will vary slightly from year to year and from zone to zone. You can grow the crossvine and let it drape a fence or porch railing that borders the flower garden.
Companion plants are almost limitless.
Blue crown pansies usually still look good during this time, and they will contrast perfectly with the crossvine as does Victoria Blue salvia. If fresh yellow marigolds or ageratums have been planted, the blooming crossvine will frame the garden nicely. Lately, I have been showing slides in my presentations and invariably some of our senior citizens will acknowledge smoking the vine when they were kids. Those whipper-snappers from the Depression era evidently had an appreciation for the crossvine other than for its use in the landscape. To grow yours, choose a site in full sun for the most spectacular flower show.