| Botanical Name | Pondranea ricasoliana |
| Family | Bignoniaceae |
| Local Name in Urdu | Does not exist, not a native plant |
| Common Name | Pink tecoma, Pink trumpet vine |
| Life Cycle | Evergreen shrubby climber |
| Cultivar Name | NA, however light and darker pink versions can be seen |
| Fragrant or Not | Mild fragrance, to some it may remind strawberries |
| Category(Bush/Vine/Tree) | Climber |
| Height | Upto 12 ft |
| Spacing | Usually grown as a solitary plant, close to a wall |
| Flowering Months | Blooms profusely in summer, and blooms occassionally through out the year |
| Flower Color | Pink with a deep coloured markings around the flower throat |
| Growing Areas | Warm areas, grows well in Karachi, Lahore |
| Frost Tender | Will not tolerate frost |
| Exposure | Full sunlight - part shade |
| Soil pH | Tolerant, no specific issues observed |
| Propagation | Stem cuttings, air layering |
| Uses | Ornamental |
| Other Details | Podranea is a must have in a garden for its attractive light pink coloured flowers which appear in terminal clusters. Additionally it is a very fast grower. This plant likes warm areas. Podranea needs a robust support, since it does not twine around other plants yet it is a climber. The compound leaves can have upto 11 leaflets. It does very well in bright sunlight, and requires well drained soil full of natural nutrients (aged manure). It wilts very quickly in summer it watering gap is increased so water occassionally in summer. Pruning is said to improve and induce flowering. Like any tender plant, it is often attacked by aphids (on new growths). And somehow my own plant was chewed by termites leading to its sudden death, so keep an eye on unwanted visitors. Interesting history of its name: http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantnop/podranricasol.htm The name Podranea is an anagram of Pandorea, a closely related Australian genus, in which Podranea was first classified. Pandora means all-gifted. She was the first woman of Greek mythology and was given the box that contained all man's ills. When she opened it, they all flew out. |
