Alba Bower Vine

Alba Bower Vine (Pandorea jasminoides 'Alba') turns a plain fence into a wall of white trumpet flowers. Given something to climb it reaches about 5m and spreads roughly 2m, and it stays evergreen year round. It twines rather than clings, so it needs wire or a trellis and will not grip render or brickwork.

Why you'll love it

• White trumpets through the warm months. Clean white bells with a soft throat cover the plant from spring into autumn, and established vines flower more heavily each year.
• Quick cover on a bare fence. A fast grower, so a wire panel or lattice fills in well ahead of most evergreen screening shrubs.
• Australian native, and the pollinators use it. Native to eastern Australia, with flowers that draw bees and butterflies through the season.
• Handles a hard position. Once established it is drought tolerant, salt tolerant and comfortable in humidity, so coastal and subtropical gardens suit it.

Where it works best

Screening and privacy. Run it along a wire trellis or fence panel at 1.5m spacing for full cover. That spacing lets each plant build its own framework instead of tangling.

Balconies and courtyards. A 40cm to 50cm pot with a frame holds one plant comfortably, giving height and flower with no garden bed.

Feature planting. Trained over an arch, pergola or carport beam it reads as a flowering ceiling rather than a screen.

Growing Alba Bower Vine in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun brings the heaviest flowering; part shade thins the display. It suits tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens, and takes light frost only, so cold inland districts, the tablelands and frosty southern gardens need a sheltered warm wall or a pot that can move under cover.

Soil. Free draining soil of any type suits it. On clay, plant on a low mound and work compost through the bed. Mulch 75mm deep, kept clear of the stems.

Water and feed. Deep soak twice a week through the first summer, then taper to a weekly drink. A controlled release native fertiliser in early spring covers the season.

Pruning. Tie new growth to the support as it goes, then prune straight after the main flush. It reshoots from old wood, so a tangled vine can be cut back hard in early spring.

What to expect when it arrives

Three sizes are sold: 140mm in a pack of 10, 200mm in a pack of 6, and a single 300mm pot. The packs suit a long fence line: young plants establish quickly and cost far less per metre. The 300mm plant is larger and already twining, which suits a single arch or pot.

Plants travel with the growth tied in and can arrive leaning, which corrects within a fortnight once tied to a support. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery, and every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee. Expect solid cover in two to three seasons.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse the full climbing plant range
• Softening a fence or retaining wall with planting
• Compare other Australian natives

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it along a fence?

Space plants 1.5m apart in a single line. Closer planting crowds the bases and makes pruning harder without closing the gap sooner.

Will it damage my fence or walls?

No. It twines around a support rather than gripping the surface, so it will not mark render or lift paint. It does need wire, mesh or lattice to hold onto.

Does it flower in shade?

It grows in part shade but flowering drops noticeably. For a heavy display give it at least half a day of direct sun.

Can I grow it in a pot?

Yes. Use a pot of at least 40cm with a frame or obelisk, water more often than you would in the ground, and feed in spring and late summer.