Leaf

Graziano Piero, Tela Botanica · CC BY-SA 2.0

Black-eyed Susan vine

Thunbergia alata Bojer ex Sims

Family: Acanthaceae

Climber of 1.50 to 3 m

Grown on a pergola, trellis or in a pot, mild climate or as an annual

Flowering: June – October

Full sun

Not hardy, grown as an annual in temperate climates, perennial only in very mild climates

❓ How do you recognise this plant?

The black-eyed Susan vine owes its name to the striking contrast between its coloured petals and the almost black centre of each flower — a pattern so characteristic that it has inspired its nickname in many languages around the world.

🍃 Leaves

Heart-shaped, toothed, slightly rough

🌸 Flowers

Orange, yellow or white, with a characteristic black throat, flared trumpet-shaped

🍎 Fruits

Small dry capsule

🪵 Bark

Twining, climbing herbaceous stem

🗺️ Distribution

Native to East Africa; grown in France as an annual or, in mild climates, perennial climber

🐝 Value for pollinators

Nectar-yielding flowers visited by bees and butterflies all summer

✂️ Horticultural uses

Annual climber, very free-flowering and easy to grow, planted in pots, window boxes or on a small trellis for its continuous colourful flowering

⚠️ Possible toxicity

No notable known toxicity

ℹ️ Educational profile — do not use it to judge whether a plant is edible or safe.

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