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Bengal Trumpet Wikimedia Commons
Acanthaceae

Bengal Trumpet

Thunbergia grandiflora

Abundant beauty.

Family
Acanthaceae
Genus
Thunbergia
Native to
India, Southeast Asia, China
Bloom season
Summer, Fall
Type
vine
Height
15-30 ft
Sunlight
full sun to part shade
Soil
rich, moist, well-drained
Water
moderate to high
Hardiness
10-12
Lifespan
perennial

Did you know

  • The genus is named after Carl Peter Thunberg, a Swedish naturalist known as the 'father of South African botany.'
  • In tropical regions it can grow over 30 feet in a single season, quickly covering structures and large trees.
  • It is considered invasive in Hawaii, Australia, and parts of Central America where it smothers native vegetation.
  • Each individual flower can measure up to 3 inches across, with a pale yellow throat and blue-lavender petals.
  • In Ayurvedic medicine, the plant has been used to treat inflammation, diabetes, and skin ailments for centuries.

Color meanings

0

abundance

1

beauty

2

climbing ambition

Uses

  • arbor and pergola covering
  • tropical landscaping
  • traditional medicine
  • ornamental vine