Growing thunbergia from seeds and care in open ground, 7 best varieties

The spectacular thunbergia can decorate the local area, entwining fences, trellises, gazebos, and house walls. This feature allows the plant to be successfully used in the construction of various landscape compositions. The culture is universal in use, as it can grow in the garden and indoors. Thunbergia, grown from seeds, delights passers-by with its bright flowering and will not leave any gardener indifferent.

Botanical features of the plant

Thunbergia is a herbaceous plant belonging to the Acanthaceae family. There are annual and perennial species, which are most often grown in open soil. The plant is named after the Swedish naturalist and researcher Carl Peter Thunberg, who studied the flora and fauna of Southern Japan and Africa with particular interest. Residents of European countries extol another name for thunbergia - Black Susanna, because in the center of the flower there is a dark purple eye.

In one year, the crop can grow 2-8 m in length. The plant is distinguished by a strong root system and branched ground shoots. The leaves have an oval shape, a green tint and small embossed veins, short petioles, located oppositely on a weaving stem.

The leaf blade can have either a smooth or jagged edge, as well as a small number of trichomes on the reverse side of the leaf. The diameter of the flower calyx is 4 cm, and the bud itself consists of 5 wide petals, located singly on peduncles. The color of flowers can be very diverse, ranging from white to red.

After flowering, a fruit is formed - a box containing seeds 4 mm in diameter, oblong in shape with a rough brown skin.

Habitat

Thunbergia grows in the Asian and African tropics, occupying a vast territory due to its size.Despite the fact that these latitudes do not have a temperate continental climate, the plant takes root in the garden without any problems.

Thunbergia in landscape design

Thunbergia looks great in a single planting without the use of other plants. Next to it you can grow several shrubs that will complement each other with color shades. Pairs perfectly with fuchsia and asparagus. Thunbergia is used to create compositions with plants such as ivy, sweet pea, and honeysuckle.

The culture is also capable of masking unsightly parts of walls and decorating balconies. But thickets of tropical perennial plants are used to create hedges, and gazebos and plots are decorated with flowerpots and flowerpots.

The best types and varieties of thunbergia

Cultivated vines are represented by the following most common species and varieties.

Winged (Thunbergia alata)

A bright climbing plant, its maximum height can reach more than 2 meters. Small flowers with a diameter of 3-4 cm of a cream color with a dark brown outline bloom on long stalks. The leaves are ovoid in shape and have small serrated edges. The species does not tolerate sun well and in most cases prefers partial shade.

Fragrant

Climbing thunbergia bushes, which grow up to 6 m in open ground conditions, and up to 2 m in indoor conditions. The stems are ribbed with trichomes, the leaves are large, heart-shaped, oppositely located. The flowers are solitary, located in the axils of the leaves.

Large-flowered grandiflora or blue

The culture is distinguished by the presence of large peduncles, powerful and strong branching. The main feature is that the plant is evergreen and has palmate leaves in small quantities.Thunbergia flowers are collected in racemes and can have a wide variety of shades.

Battiscombe

Beattiscombe's thunbergia looks like a tall climbing vine that needs reliable support. The elliptical leaves are bright green in color, in the axils of which there are large blue-violet flowers. The shape of the flower resembles an elongated tube of small and large pharynx, the inside of which is yellow.

Mysore or Mizoren

An evergreen liana up to 6 m high. The woody stem of thunbergia is partially covered with long leaves. The clusters of inflorescences are drooping, the flowers are of unusual shape, looking like the open mouth of a snake that is preparing to attack.

Bicolor

The variety is distinguished by the fact that it is erect and small. The shrub grows to a maximum height of 1.5 m, characterized by spreading and thin faceted branches. Large thunbergia flowers are up to 7 cm in length, have a tube shape of a delicate blue color inside with white stripes along the contour and a yellow color on the outside.

Black-Eyed Suzanne

Gardeners cultivate thunbergia as a climbing vine or upright shrub. It comes in a wide variety of colors, but its characteristic feature is its dark core.

Optimal conditions for growth and flowering

For normal germination of thunbergia, bright lighting is necessary. But in the period from 12 to 3 o'clock in the afternoon it is better to provide shade so as not to expose the plant to the scorching rays of the sun. The optimal temperature varies from 21 to 25 degrees.

How to grow a crop from seeds

To properly grow thunbergia from seeds, you need to carefully study the technology of sowing and caring for sprouts.

Timing and technology of sowing

Before planting, the seed must be treated with growth stimulants.

It is recommended to sow at the end of winter or in the first month of spring.

Sowing sequence algorithm:

1. Fill the containers with moistened soil mixture enriched with peat, turf soil and sand. Instead of sand, you can use leaf soil or humus. Mix all three components in equal quantities.
2. Place the seeds on the surface and sprinkle with a small layer of prepared soil.
3. Carefully water the planting material.
4. Cover the containers with a special film and place them in a bright place, avoiding direct exposure to the sun.

In the future, it is important to create favorable conditions for the germination of thunbergia sprouts and carry out appropriate care.

Germination and care of sprouts

Seedlings should be kept in a room whose temperature varies from 22 to 24 degrees. Also make sure that the soil in the container does not dry out and systematically moisten it. Remove the cover as soon as the first shoots appear. With good care and acceptable conditions, they will appear within a week after planting.

When 2 true leaves are formed, the seedlings need to be thinned out, removing all weak sprouts that are unadapted to further life. You can pinch the bushes to make them denser, but do this only when the seedlings reach 12-15 cm. Be sure to fertilize thunbergia with nitrogen-containing substances every week.

Transplantation into open ground

Plant thunbergia seedlings in a flower bed after frost has passed. It is better to allocate the plant to the eastern or southern part of the garden. The soil is preferably drained, with a neutral environment, enriched with nutrients.

When planting, maintain a distance between holes of at least 30-45 cm.It is imperative to install a support in the form of a grid or wire. After planting, water the seedlings well.

Thunbergia will not take long to bloom, but will delight you 100 days after pinching.

Flower care

Thunbergia is quite easy to care for and grows successfully after a successful planting. But it is still important to provide the crop with proper further care, which includes high-quality watering, fertilization, weeding and protection from diseases and pests.

Watering

The plant loves moisture, especially during the flowering period, you need to regularly check the soil and eliminate signs of drying out. If there is insufficient moisture, thunbergia can be affected by spider mites. Therefore, during drought, the plant should be sprayed with a spray bottle. At the end of flowering, it is recommended to reduce watering.

Fertilizer

Thunbergia needs feeding during the period of bud formation. For these purposes, it is better to use minerals by adding them to the water intended for irrigation.

Garden bed care: weeding

The soil around thunbergia needs to be weeded as necessary and weeds removed, which take up a significant percentage of moisture, shade and inhibit the growth and development of flowers. Weeding will also provide oxygen access to the roots of the plant.

Diseases and pests: control and prevention

The appearance of mold is a clear sign of waterlogging. Insects such as spider mites, scale insects, and whiteflies pose a danger to thunbergia. They can be found on the back of the leaf. Only special chemicals will help in the fight against insidious pests.

What to do after flowering

When thunbergia fades, it is necessary to collect the seeds and prepare the plant for the winter.

Collecting seeds

At the end of thunbergia flowering, boxes containing seeds will begin to form in place of the buds. It is advisable to collect them before they open. It is advisable to open the torn boxes with your hands over a covered surface, after which the resulting seeds are dried and sent to cardboard boxes.

Under such conditions they can be stored for no more than 2 years.

Preparing for winter

In the fall, the plant should be disposed of, since it will not be able to survive frosts. It is best to transplant it into a pot and keep it at home. But before that, trim the shoots, leaving about 5 buds.

Thunbergia is one of the best plants for decorating a personal plot, balcony, loggia, or a separate corner in a room. The main advantages of the culture, thanks to which it is so popular, are its rapid growth and the beauty of flowering.