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Strongylodon macrobotrys
Jade vine is a large leguminous climber from the Philippines, prized for cascading clusters of turquoise-blue claw-shaped flowers. It needs warm, humid tropical conditions, a sturdy support, and years of growth before it flowers.
Strongylodon macrobotrys, commonly known as the jade vine, emerald vine, or turquoise jade vine, is a leguminous vine endemic to the Philippines. It is a popular ornamental plant known for its cascading clusters of vibrant turquoise or greenish-blue claw-shaped flowers. Cultivating jade vine requires a tropical environment, making it a popular choice in botanical gardens and conservatories. The plant's striking appearance and limited distribution contribute to its allure among plant enthusiasts worldwide.
Strongylodon macrobotrys is not frost-tolerant; it needs a minimum temperature of 15 °C (59 °F), and in colder latitudes the plant must be grown in a large glasshouse or conservatory. It is prized in tropical and subtropical gardens for its showy flowers which are a highly unusual color, unlike that of almost any other plant. It is usually grown over a pergola or other tall support to display the spectacular cascading flower trusses which are produced generously once the vine is mature (after 2 years or more, depending on pruning regime). Curiously, on a large plant, the pale-colored blooms can be difficult to see in strong sunlight and could be overlooked if not for the fallen blooms below the vine. Fallen blooms change color as they dry out, from mint green to blue-green to purple. The seed pods are not formed in cultivation, but by mimicking the actions of the natural pollinators, Kew Gardens has been successful in pollinating the flowers and producing seeds. Propagation is also possible from nodal cuttings.
The plant grows beside streams in damp forests, or in ravines.
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Strongylodon macrobotrys by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.
The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.
