Description
Thunbergia thun-BUR-jee-uh
Thunbergia, or Black Eyed Susan, is a genus of 100 plants native to tropical Africa and Australia that produces vast, funnel-shaped flowers with dark centers (or “black eyes”) and heart-shaped leaves in hues of yellow, white, orange and blue. This flowering vine is as easy to care for as it is charming. The flowers look daisy-like at a distance, with five overlapping, solid-colored petals surrounding a brownish-purple center tube. The medium green leaves are a little coarse and grow opposite one another—they can be either heart-shaped or have a lance-like arrowhead shape. This fast-growing vine is best planted as a potted nursery plant in the spring once the soil has warmed. It can extend to 8 feet in one growing season.