All flowers
Garlic Vine Wikimedia Commons
Bignoniaceae

Garlic Vine

Mansoa alliacea

Protection and strength.

Family
Bignoniaceae
Genus
Mansoa
Native to
Amazon Basin, South America
Bloom season
Spring, Fall
Type
evergreen vine
Height
10-30 ft
Sunlight
full sun to part shade
Soil
rich, moist, well-drained
Water
moderate
Hardiness
10-12
Lifespan
perennial

Did you know

  • All parts of the plant emit a strong garlic scent when crushed, caused by the same sulfur compounds found in actual garlic.
  • The flowers change color as they age, opening violet-purple and fading to lavender then white, so three colors appear simultaneously.
  • Indigenous Amazonian peoples use the leaves as a garlic substitute in cooking and as medicine for fevers and colds.
  • In Brazilian folk medicine, the plant is called 'cipó-de-alho' and is used to treat rheumatism and respiratory infections.
  • Despite smelling like garlic, it is a member of the trumpet vine family and is completely unrelated to true garlic.

Color meanings

0

warding off evil

1

vigor

Uses

  • culinary garlic substitute
  • traditional Amazonian medicine
  • ornamental tropical vine