Xeriscape Landscaping Plants For The Arizona Desert Environment
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Vines

Lavender Orchid Vine, Mascagnia lilacina

Lavender Orchid Vine, Mascagnia lilacina Photo Taken At Desert Botanical Garden Phoenix On March 3, 2008.

Lavender Orchid Vine	Mascagnia lilacina

Lavender Orchid Vine Mascagnia lilacina, Barbados Cherry Family ( Malpighiaceae ), Lavender Orchid Vine. Also called: Blue Orchid Vine, Purple Mascagnia. Lavender Orchid Vine is an evergreen vine native to (Coahuila) Mexico. Mascagnia lilacina has twining stems bearing dark green, small oval leaves that are covered in fine hairs. The fine hairs that can cause skin irritation for some people. Beginning in about May, Lavender Orchid Vine produces clusters of showy purple, orchid-like flowers, about 1 inch wide, the orchid shaped flowers are followed by papery, winged, chartreuse seed pods, that turn tan. A second flowering will sometimes occur in the fall. Blue Orchid Vine will climb 15 to 20 feet up a trellis or fence, it will also twine upon itself, growing in a mound which can be a shrub or a groundcover. Blue Orchid Vine is cold hardy to the mid-20's F. This perennial vine is a great Xeriscape plant in Arizona. This plant is also attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds. Height: Height to about 15 - 20 feet. Equal or greater spread. Flowers: Papilionaceous, butterfly - like, and are borne in pendant clusters. Blooming Time: May to September in Phoenix. Leaves: Dark green, glossy, small oval leaves that are covered in fine hairs. Seed Pod: A papery, winged, chartreuse seed pods, that turn tan. Elevation: 0 - 2,500 Feet. Habitat: Xeriscape Landscape plant. Native to (Coahuila) Mexico. Miscellaneous: Flowering Photos Taken At Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix , Arizona On March 3, 2008.