Tangerine Beauty Cross Vine

The cross vine offers lovely salmon to orange flowers with evergreen leaves and a non-aggressive habit.  Perfect if you are worried about a trumpet vine (Campsis radicans) taking over or need more of an evergreen screen that is cold hardier than Carolina Jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens).   This southeastern U.S. native is hardy to minus 10 degrees and will stay evergreen in all but the harshest winters- the leaves may turn a purple tone but will remain on the stem.  We have been impressed with the long bloom time- starting in late spring with a flush again in the summer into fall, as well as its fast growth once planted in the ground.  Cross vine grows by tendrils so it won’t damage building surfaces and can grow 10-20′ tall.  It does best in full sun and is drought tolerant once established.  Hummingbirds are naturally attracted to the tubular orange and yellow throated flowers.  It does not seem to be choosy about soil conditions and is easy to care for.  Various literature reports it to be deer resistant but we haven’t tried it unprotected in the Rogue Valley yet- let us know!