Mascagnia macroptera     
Yellow orchid vine    
Malpighiaceae Family      

Form: vine; can be a shrub up to 6ft
Seasonality: deciduous
Size: to 20ft
Leaves: simple; smooth, green, 2x1in tapering to a point
Flowers: bright yellow clusters; paddle-shaped with 5 petals; spring
Fruit: large papery seed capsules, green at first then drying to tan ("-ptera" in botanical name means winged)
Stems/Trunks: smooth; green when young, turn gray with age
Range/Origin: Mexico
Hardiness: to 24°F

persistant seed capsule on Mascagnia macroptera

LANDSCAPE VALUE:

• screening
• climbs trellises or fences

CULTURAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Exposure: full sun, part shade; loves the heat
• Water: low; 1-2 times per month when growing
• Soil: any
• Propagation: seeds, cuttings
• Maintenance: Needs attachment if grown on walls; prune out dead wood. In the spring, can prune down to 2ft to reduce size or reinvigorate

Research by Master Gardener Barbara Schneidau

NOTES:

Mascagnia macroptera growing up a balcony

Blooms on and off in warm weather, biggest show in spring.

Fruit remains on for months. Often used in dried arrangments.

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This page was first created July 4, 2004 and last modified March 16, 2006.

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