Bower vine is an evergreen vine with large pink flowers. It’s native to tropical regions of Australia and yet, with the right care, it can make itself at home in southwest desert gardens. Here’s everything you need to know about growing this lovely, resilient vine.
Bower vine (Pandorea jasminoides) is an evergreen vine with glossy, dark green leaves and large, two-tone pink flowers. Flowers are followed by pea-like pods.
This robust vine looks tropical — because it is! Its native habitat includes the tropical and subtropical rainforests of eastern Australia. It thrives in the humid US southeast, yet is sufficiently resilient to also grow in the arid southwest.
Its trumpet-shaped flowers attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.
Why I Like This Plant
- Pastel pink flowers with dark pink throats
- Glossy evergreen leaves
- No thorns, not toxic
- Attracts pollinators
Things to Watch Out For
Bower vine has a strong and penetrating root system and should not be planted near underground water pipes, pools, or other water features.
Since it’s native to Australia’s much wetter subtropics and tropics, it’s not particularly drought tolerant. So you should expect to give it more water than other desert vines.
Optimal Growing Conditions
If you’re thinking of adding a bower vine to your garden, you need to find a suitable place that will keep it healthy and looking good… while minimizing maintenance for you.
Here are the key factors to keep in mind.
Temperature
Bower vine should be grown in USDA Hardiness Zones 9 – 11. This heat-loving vine tolerates desert heat, even in the hottest places like Phoenix.
Established plants tolerate temperatures down to the mid twenties, however, young plants are more susceptible to cold damage and should be protected from frost.
Sun Exposure
Bower vine can be grown in full sun to part shade, but it blooms most profusely in full sun. When grown in full sun, it appreciates some afternoon shade.
Size and Growth Rate
It’s a fast grower that typically reaches a size of 20 feet tall and wide, unless you control its size with pruning.
Soil
Bower vine can be grown in any well-draining native soil, but it performs best in fertile soil that’s kept evenly moist.
Other Location Considerations
This twining vine readily grows up any nearby support structure, such as a trellis, lattice, or fence. It’s beautiful when rambling over the top of a ramada or pergola.
Since it likes rich, moist soil, consider growing one in a large container.
It makes a great substitute for mandevilla, a similar-looking tropical vine that does not do well here (even though it’s often sold here).
Bower Vine:
The Essentials
| Common Name | Bower vine |
| Scientific Name | Pandorea jasminoides |
| Origin | Australia |
| Plant Type | Evergreen vine |
| USDA Zones | Zones 9 – 11 |
| Cold Hardiness | To 25℉ |
| Flower Color | Pink |
| Flower Season | Spring, summer, fall |
| Mature Size | 20’ high x 20’ wide |
| Growth Rate | Fast |
| Sun Tolerance | Full, part sun |
| Water Needs | Moderate |
| Pests & Diseases | None |
| Garden Friendly | No thorns, non-toxic |
| Wildlife | Attracts butterflies, bees, hummingbirds |
How to Plant
The rule of thumb when planting any vine in the desert is to dig a hole three times as wide as the root ball but no deeper.
Since bower vine prefers fertile soil, it’s recommended that you amend your hole with compost or a commercial soil mix. And if your soil is slow-draining, add sand or small gravel. Top with organic mulch to retain moisture and increase soil fertility.
When to Plant
The best time to plant bower vine is in the fall. This gives it three seasons to grow roots and get established before the following summer.
The second best time is in spring, the earlier the better. This still gives your plant time to get established before the intense heat of June arrives.
How to Care for Bower Vine
Whether you’ve recently planted a bower vine or have an existing plant in your yard, here’s how to take care of it to keep it healthy and looking its best.
How to Water New Plants
Once you’ve got your bower vine in the ground, watering is your most immediate concern. Here is the recommended watering schedule for new vines planted in the spring or fall.
| Weeks 1 & 2 | Every 3 – 4 days |
| Weeks 3 & 4 | Every 6 – 7 days |
| Weeks 5 & 6 | Every 7 – 10 days |
| Weeks 7 & 8 | Every 10 – 14 days |
After week 8, gradually revise your watering schedule, depending on the season.
How to Water Established Plants
Here’s a suggested watering schedule for subsequent years.
| Spring & Fall | Every 10 – 14 days |
| Summer | Every 7 – 10 days |
| Winter | Every 14 – 21 days |
Bower vine prefers consistently moist soil, but is somewhat drought tolerant once established.
Should You Fertilize?
Since bower vine did not evolve to grow in our desert soil and is a prolific bloomer, it benefits from an application of fertilizer in the spring or by top dressing with compost a few times per year.
How to Prune
Prune bower vine in early spring to remove cold damage or dead, woody branches.
You can lightly prune it any time to control its size and shape, ideally after a period of blooming. It flowers most profusely in the spring and then again in the fall.
Once established, bower vine benefits from hard pruning, i.e., cutting it back to one foot in early spring every few years. This invigorates the plant and encourages flowering.
Don’t Confuse Bower Vine With…
Bower vine (Pandorea jasminoides) is often confused with pink trumpet vine (Podranea ricasoliana). Both are evergreen vines with glossy leaves and pink flowers that have similar care requirements.
And weirdly, their genus names — Pandorea vs Podranea — are anagrams!
Upon close examination, you’ll notice an obvious difference. Pink trumpet vine’s flowers are bright, clear pink and petals have ruffled edges.
Bower Vine Cultivars
If pastel pink is not your preference, bower vine is available in several cultivars with various flower colors. Here are some you may come across.
- ‘Alba‘ – white flowers
- ‘Lady Di’ – white flowers
- ‘Southern Belle‘ – bright rose flowers
- ‘Variegata‘ – pink flowers, variegated leaves
Plant Lover Facts
Bower vine (Pandorea jasminoides) is also called bower of beauty or bower climber.
The word bower means a pleasant place under the branches of a tree.
Bower vine is native to Australia’s Queensland and New South Wales, where it typically grows in tropical and subtropical rainforests and warm temperate regions, some of which can get over 100 inches of annual rainfall! That it can grow in the arid desert on much less water is a testament to this plant’s resilience and adaptability.
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Author Bio
Deane Alban is the creator of Southwest Gardener. She is a science writer with a bachelor’s degree in botany from the University of South Florida. Gardening is her lifelong passion. She’s been gardening in Tucson for over 15 years.
Photo Credits
RI, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Philmarin, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Zediting, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons