Yellow Butterfly Vine, Yellow Orchid Vine, Mascagnia, Butterfly Pea Vine, Gallinita

Description

Clusters of sunny yellow 1" orchid-like flowers are borne in spring and summer and into fall and are followed by chartreuse butterfly-like seed pods that fade to brown. A vigorous and hardy yet well-mannered twining climber the Yellow Butterfly Vine can grow to 15-20' high if given support or it can easily be maintained on a fence, trellis, or arbor. This woody naturally evergreen vine can also be grown as a mounding shrub to 4-6' high. Where not hardy the Yellow Butterfly Vine is easily maintained as a container plant. The beautiful flowers provide nectar and pollen to a variety of garden beneficials including bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.

Also known as the Yellow Orchid Vine, well-established plants are considered somewhat drought resistant once well-established but will grow and flower best under average moisture conditions. Considered hardy well into zone 8 it is still best to select a protected site and provide a breathable winter mulch. Mascagnia macroptera is evergreen to about 25oF but below that it may lose all or most of its foliage which quickly returns with the warm days of spring. It is reported to grow in zone 7 if given a protected site and winter care but may freeze to the ground. Where hardiness is a consideration plant as early in the year as possible to help them get well established before winter.Mascagnia macroptera is not the same as Stigmaphyllon ciliatum. The Stigmaphyllon has caudate or heart shaped leaf bases where the Mascagnia macroptera does not among other characteristics but this is the quickest way to tell them apart at a glance.