Pandorea jasminoides Variegated

Variegated Bower Vine (Pandorea jasminoides 'Variegata') is an Australian native climber that earns its place twice over: cream splashed foliage that lights up a shaded fence all year, then soft pink trumpet flowers with deeper throats through the warm months. It climbs to around 5m and spreads about 2m on a support, which makes it a screen for a narrow space where no shrub would fit.

Why you'll love it

• Variegated leaves do the work year round. Even out of flower the cream and green foliage brightens a dim courtyard wall.
• Real screening from a 200mm strip of soil. At 5m it covers a fence or a trellis while taking almost no garden bed width.
• An Australian native that flowers hard. Pink trumpets over a long warm season, worked steadily by bees and butterflies.
• Coastal and humidity tolerant. Salt laden wind and a sticky subtropical summer both suit it, and it is drought tolerant once established.

Where it works best

Screening a fence or trellis. Plant 1.5m apart to cover a run of fence or wire. It is a twiner, not a self clinging climber, so it needs wires, mesh or a lattice to hold on to.

Balconies and courtyards. One plant in a large pot against a trellis gives height and privacy in a space measured in centimetres rather than metres.

Feature planting. Trained over an arch, a pergola or a carport frame it makes a light canopy that flowers overhead rather than at eye level.

Growing bower vine in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun to part shade; more sun means more flowers, more shade means better foliage colour. It suits tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens. It takes light frost only, so in cold inland or southern districts give it a warm sheltered wall or grow it in a pot under cover.

Soil. Well drained soil enriched with compost. It resents constantly wet feet, so raise the planting hole on heavy clay and mulch 75mm deep, kept clear of the stem.

Water and feed. Water twice weekly through the first summer while it builds a root system, then reduce. Feed with a low phosphorus native fertiliser in early spring and again after the first flush.

Pruning. Tie the young stems to the support until they take hold, then prune after flowering to keep it inside its space. It flowers on new growth, so an annual trim gives more blooms rather than fewer.

What to expect when it arrives

This vine is grown here as tube stock, so expect a young plant with one or two soft stems and a few pairs of leaves. It grows fast and catches up to larger stock within a season, but needs a support in place from day one.

Tie the leading stem to its wire or lattice as soon as it is planted. Expect noticeable climbing within six to eight weeks in warm weather and reasonable coverage by the end of the second season. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse the full climbers range
• How to soften a fence or retaining wall with planting
• Compare Australian native plants
• Plants that suit balconies and courtyards

Common questions

Does it need a trellis?

Yes. Bower vine twines rather than clinging, so it cannot climb a bare wall on its own. Wires, mesh, lattice or an open fence all work, and the stems need tying in for the first few months.

How far apart should I plant them?

One and a half metres apart along a fence or trellis. Closer planting does not speed up coverage and simply makes pruning and tying in more awkward.

Why has some foliage turned plain green?

Variegated plants occasionally throw a stronger all green shoot. Cut it out where it joins the main stem as soon as you see it, because green growth is more vigorous and will eventually dominate.