The Mandarin Garden Club hosts a Mascagnia macroptera, more commonly
known as Butterfly Vine, Yellow Orchid Vine or Gallinita. However, in the
horticulture trade the correct botanical name is Callaeum macropterum and the
names are not interchangeable.This is one of those plants that should be
researched via the botanical name. If you use common names, you may run across
another plant entirely, called the Butterfly Pea Vine, Clitoria ternatea (also
on the grounds of the Mandarin Garden Club). To add to the confusion, Mascagnia
was previously classified as Stigmaphyllon ciliatum.
Butterfly
Vine is considered a native of Mexico and is well-suited to a western exposure
because of its high heat tolerance. Although fairly drought tolerant, it looks
better with regular watering as long as you don't over water. It is thornless,
disease free and unattractive to pests.
Plant it
in full sun to light shade and water to get it well-established. Afterwards,
this vine will be very drought tolerant and require little maintenance other
than pruning. Best suited for USDA Zones 8-10 where it remains evergreen in
mild winters but is cold hardy to the mid-20s. It grows fast enough to be
considered an annual in climates colder than Zone 8 but it is best to plant it
in a protected area. If may freeze to the ground but
will sprout again in the spring. It can be grown in a
container, on a pole or fence, trellised, pruned as a flowing branched shrub,
or grown as a ground cover.
From May
to September, this vine produces clusters of showy, yellow orchid-shaped
flowers with 5 petals about 1-inch wide. These are followed by clusters of
papery, winged chartreuse seed pods resembling a butterfly. Allow these seed
pods to dry on the plant. Once brown, use your thumbnails to pull the butterfly
"body" apart and collect the seeds. Semi-softwood cuttings can be taken
in late spring or early fall. These cuttings will be ready for transplant in
less than three months.
Be sure to
take a look at the Mandarin Garden Club’s Butterfly Vine to see this unusual
plant for yourself. It’s in that area between the main building and the shed.
In the flower bed at the wall of the shed, you'll find it on a trellis.
Linda Jones
Cherokee Rose
