Plant Answers

BUTTERFLY VINE
(Mascagnia macroptera)

The Butterfly Vine gets its name from the seed pods which resemble a butterfly. Notice the green (immature seed) and brown (mature) butterfly shaped seed	The great thing about the Butterfly Vine is it has several maturities of seed pods at the same time it is in full bloom.
The Butterfly Vine blooms and makes butterfly-shaped seed pods from early spring until late fall.	The green butterfly seed pods hide amongst the shiny green foliage and the beautiful yellow blooms.
The Butterfly Vine is a summer bloomer along side the Pride of Barbados at the San Antonio Garden.

The clusters of dainty flowers on butterfly vine shine as brilliant as the summer sun. But it's the seed pods that give the plant its name.

During summer, chartreuse 'wings' unfold on the seed pods that look like butterflies. The papery pods will turn tan to brown as they mature, and they can be harvested and planted.

In mild winters, the vine will retain its gloss green foliage. It will die back and resprout in spring after a cold winter.

The plant recently was renamed; it previously was classified as Stigmaphyllon ciliatum.

Light: Sun to partial shade.

Size: 15 to 20 feet tall and wide.

Water: Moderate.

Bloom: Spring to fall.

Cultivation: Prefers rich, well-drained soil. Plant the frost-tender vine on the south or east side for winter protection.
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Name: Mascagnia macroptera

Common name: Yellow butterfly vine. This name comes from the greenish, butterfly-shaped seedpods the plant produces (but it attracts butterflies, too).

Description: Fast-growing vine that reaches 10-12 feet high. It
produces clusters of bright-yellow flowers from spring to frost. While
many other plants are touted as spring-to-frost bloomers, this one is the real deal. Evergreen vine that will easily train itself to a trellis or fence. If left unsupported, this plant will twine on itself to produce a mounding shrub or even a groundcover. This is fairly drought tolerant but looks much better with regular watering through the dry season.

Range/Origin: Mexico; This plant is often listed as being from Central America but it grows as far south as Brazil. It was in fact noted by Joseph Banks at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (1768).

Uses: With great heat tolerance, it's well-suited for sites with western exposures. Grow it against walls, on arbors and against mailboxes and light posts. Another great attribute is the plant's incredible heat tolerance. It's virtually impervious to the baking sun and well-suited for west-facing walls and places that receive reflected heat in summer. It's a fast grower, reaching 10-12 feet high, and also grows in partial shade.

Maintenance: Little required

Hardiness: M. macroptera is considered hardy just to USDA Hardiness
Zone 8, but could survive Zone 7 if planted in a protected spot.
However, with its fast growth, it's also a good candidate as an annual vine in Northern climates. It would easily reach heights in a few months that could be enjoyed by homeowners before being killed by winter freezes.

Propagation: Easy from seed or softwood cuttings. From softwood cuttings, plants can be rooted and finished in just three months -- and they can be shipped in flower. These plants can be transplanted into gallon containers and finished in as little as two weeks.