Xeriscape Landscaping Plants For The Arizona Desert Environment
Pictures, Photos, And Information
Vines

Yellow Orchid Vine, Mascagnia macroptera

Yellow Orchid Vine, Mascagnia macroptera Photo Taken At Desert Botanical Garden Phoenix On May 5, 2008.

Yellow Orchid Vine	Mascagnia macroptera
Yellow Orchid Vine	Mascagnia macroptera
Yellow Orchid Vine Developing Seed Pod	Mascagnia macroptera Developing Seed Pod

Yellow Orchid Vine Mascagnia macroptera, Barbados Cherry Family ( Malpighiaceae ), Yellow Orchid Vine. Also called: Callaeum macropterum, Butterfly Vine. Yellow Orchid Vine is an evergreen vine native to central Baja California, central Sonora and south throughout most of Mexico. Mascagnia macroptera has twining stems bearing dark green, linear leaves. Beginning in about May, Yellow Orchid Vine produces clusters of showy yellow 5 petaled, 1 inch wide, orchid shaped flowers, followed by papery, winged, chartreuse seed pods, that turn tan. Since the fruit resembles a greenish or brown butterfly, it gets the other common name "Butterfly Vine." A second flowering will sometimes occur in the fall. Yellow 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. Butterfly 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. If growing the plant from seeds, seed germination can be difficult. DO NOT pre-soak the seeds. They will rot, if pre-soaked. The seed can be found inside the butterfly "body" part of the seed pod. Use your fingernails to pull the "body" apart. The seed will be inside. Then roll the seed between your thumb and forefinger, if the seed is viable, it will not crumble. Then start with a moistened soil-less mix, and then squeeze it hard to get all the water out. The moisture that is left in the soil-less mix, is now ready to plant into. Put the soil-less mix in a container with the seeds, and then cover them. The germination is very erratic. The seeds will germinate at different times over a period of about a month. Remove them as they germinate and plant them into larger containers. Height: Height to about 15 - 20 feet. Equal or greater spread. Flowers: Papilionaceous, butterfly - like, and are borne in pendant clusters. Blooming Time: May in Phoenix. Leaves: Dark green, glossy leaves alinear leaves with pointed tips. They and 2 - 3 inches long by about 1/2 - 3/4 inch wide. They are in opposite pairs along smooth twisted reddish - brown stems. Seed Pod: A papery, winged, chartreuse seed pods, that turn tan. Elevation: 0 - 2,500 Feet. Habitat: Xeriscape Landscape plant. Native to to central Baja California, central Sonora and south throughout most of Mexico. Miscellaneous: Flowering Photos Taken At Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix , Arizona On May 5, 2008.