The Crossvine, also called Bignonia capreolata, is a robust and woody vine with tendrils that stick to adhesive disks. The plant's foliage and flowers are well-known for their beauty and are an excellent way to cover structures quickly. The compound leaves of the plant have two leaflets that are dark green in color and vary in size from lanceolate to oblong. The tendrils' ends have adhesive disks that make it easy to attach them to walls. During the fall, the leaf color changes to reddish-purple and remains evergreen in the south, with leaf drops in colder climates. In early spring, the plant produces fragrant yellow-orange and red trumpet-shaped flowers that cluster in cymes of 2-5 flowers. The seeds of the plant mature in late summer and persist into the fall. The seeds are pod-like and up to 7 inches long, with a greenish color.
The Crossvine is closely related to Campsis radicans, commonly known as trumpet vine. The plant thrives in well-drained soils with average to medium moisture in full sun or part shade. Although it can tolerate full shade, it produces the best flowers in full sun. After flowering, it may require pruning. In USDA Zone 5, above-ground stems may die to the ground in severe winters, but the roots are typically hardy and sprout new growth the following spring. Established plants may send up root suckers that should be removed if the spread is not desirable.
