Strongylodon macrobotrys

Description

Strongylodon macrobotrys, commonly called jade vine, is a perennial woody vine that grows an average to about 10 meters long. It is particularly noted for the unique jade colour claw-shaped flowers which bloom in huge, showy, pendant, grape-like, clustered racemes that can droop up to one meter in length. Each raceme has 75 or more flowers, and each flower is typical about 4-5cm in size.  Sometimes the unusual flower color of this vine is also referred to as aquamarine, neon blue green or seagreen-turquoise. Flowers are papilionaceous, meaning that it is “butterfly-like” as the flowers resembles a butterfly with closed wings. It's not hard to see why the Jade Vine is considered one of the most magnificent vines in the world.

Jade vine is perfect for our coastal region as it loves hot and humid climates. Prefers organically rich, consistently moist, neutral to acidic soils in bright filtered sun, but will be just as happy in full sun with part shade conditions during the afternoon heat. This is a perfect plant to grow on a trellis, inside a greenhouse, as an indoor plant, to crawl up tall trees or to train over an arch or pergola, as long as it is sheltered from strong winds. For indoors, terracotta pots and hanging baskets are ideal. Jade vine can be a vigorous grower if the conditions is right and will typically bloom in late spring to early summer.

Jade vine originate from the rainforest in the Philippines, but in the wild it is now close to extinction in large part due to deforestation which has destroyed much of its natural habitat. Even in cultivation this plant is very rare and scarce to find.