Bignonia aequinoctialis (there are 25 other Latin names including Cydista however Bignonia is an accepted name, the rest are considered synonyms)
Family
Bignoniaceae
Local Name in Urdu
Not available
Common Name
Garlic vine, "Blue shower" by some local nurserymen in Pk
Life Cycle
Evergreen
Cultivar Name
Not applicable
Fragrant or Not
Flowers not fragrant, however leaves have a repulsive smell of garlic if crushed
Category(Bush/Vine/Tree)
Climber
Height
12-15 ft
Spacing
Grown as a solitary plant
Flowering Months
Summer time, also blooms occasionally throughout the year
Flower Color
3 colours, purple, faded purple and white as flowers age
Growing Areas
Grows well in Lahore/ Islamabad
Frost Tender
Yes, protect from cold
Exposure
Full sun
Soil pH
No specific issues known
Propagation
Stem cuttings, layering
Uses
Highly attractive to birds, bees and butterflies
Other Details
Like Petrea volubilis, Bignonia is among the most beautiful vines which thrive very well in the Pakistani weather. As the name indicates, the leaves when crushed smell like garlic and this what it distinguishes from another very similar vine called Bignonia carpreolata (no info whether this vine survives in Pakistan or not). The vine has a twining habit for climbing hence a good support is necessary. The leaves are bright green and up to 15 cm long. The flowers are first beautiful deep lavender and have a white throat. Later the flowers fade to a pale lavender and finally become almost white. All three flower colors can be found on the plant simultaneously as seen in the picture below.In Pindi Islamabad it is commonly called as "Blue Shower" by nursery wala
Image courtesy: Munir sb and M. Khabbab (Specimens growing in Islamabad / Lahore)
This vine flowers easily in karachi and islamabad but in lahore the plants takes time to establish to reach flowering stage. The last picture i took at changa nursery patoki and i am yet to find its picture in lahore. Reportedly, a very old specimen of this vine is loaded with flowers at mustafabad farm of lahore nursery. Mr waheed malik also has a garlic vine near bedian road which flowers profusely in late summer. But i have seen neither of them.
Farooq, i have the pleasure of growing Bignonia carpreolata from seeds. It grew very well in lahore on my rooftop in 14 inches pot. It artificially flowered in 2013 spring when i became impatient and gave it a small dose of GA-3 to induce flowering. The buds appeared but then dropped. It has been shifted to soilbed and i am sure it will bloom in its own cycle in spring 2014. But Bignonia carpreolata is a perennial in lahore and very heat tolerant vine.
I have two, purchased from lahore nursery after seeing it blooming at his farm. One is planted at my house and the other at thokar, at both places its growth is disappointing (4x2) in 4 years.
I have two plants,both doing very well.Both flowered in the 4th year. Two observations in its features:
. In my view it is fully evergreen, not semi decidious.Incidently, what does semi decidious imply?
. Just tried, the flower does not have any fragrance. However,the leave does smell like garlic even on splitting.
Munir wrote:I have two plants,both doing very well.Both flowered in the 4th year. Two observations in its features:
. In my view it is fully evergreen, not semi decidious.Incidently, what does semi decidious imply?
. Just tried, the flower does not have any fragrance. However,the leave does smell like garlic even on splitting.
1. Semi deciduous = the leaves fall for a very short period of time. Actually I have a handbook of 10,000 garden plants, which is an excellent resource, with pictures and it briefly described the genus Bignonia. If garlic vine is evergreen in Pakistan, then we can change that.
2. How closely it resembles the garlic odour? I mean is it as repulsive as raw garlic?
3. Munir sb could you tell us the source of purchase so that interested reader can buy it. I have never seen this vine in Karachi.
Munir wrote:I have two plants,both doing very well.Both flowered in the 4th year. Two observations in its features:
. In my view it is fully evergreen, not semi decidious.Incidently, what does semi decidious imply?
. Just tried, the flower does not have any fragrance. However,the leave does smell like garlic even on splitting.
1. Semi deciduous = the leaves fall for a very short period of time. Actually I have a handbook of 10,000 garden plants, which is an excellent resource, with pictures and it briefly described the genus Bignonia. If garlic vine is evergreen in Pakistan, then we can change that.
2. How closely it resembles the garlic odour? I mean is it as repulsive as raw garlic?
3. Munir sb could you tell us the source of purchase so that interested reader can buy it. I have never seen this vine in Karachi.
. I ll rather call it evergreen,not having seen mine without leaves ever.
. Full leave no smell,on splitting like raw garlic & on crushing does become repulsive.
. Bought both from Islamabad,Peshawar Mor. Should be easily available.
Mine is also not growing well in pot since Apr-13. Growth is about 2 inches hardly in this time. Just shifted in soil bed today. Purchased from Patoki in 6-8 inch pot with 8-10 inch height. There were some blooms too when purchased. After purchase shifted in 12 inch pot but not responded well. Now sowed in soil bed. Its leaves have fragrance like garlic when crushed.
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