I noticed this morning that Mucuna cyclocarpa, Purple Jade Vine, is currently flowering. The flower clusters are about the size of a softball and resemble a cluster of grapes from a distance. It is native to southeastern China.

Now I'm waiting for Mucuna nigricans, the Black Jade Vine to flower.

Eric,

Those are beautiful! Have you ever tried it from cuttings? And they must be cold hardy to grow that far north. What kind of temp's has it seen. Oh, how long has it been planted before it flowered? I did a few from seed earlier this summer, but I'm just not sure if I sprouted this species. I'll go out and look.

Jeff

I got it from Yucca Do nursery in TX. They have grown them there for 10 yrs. The state on their website hardy to zone 8b. In China they are native to Fujian and Jiangxi.

This was just planted in spring so its a quick bloomer. YD says theres gets over 15ft but it sounds like it dies back there each winter. They also said they can't get it to root but hand pollinate it to get seeds. I am going to try that.

http://www.yuccado.com/displayone.php?ytit...cuna+cyclocarpa

And I thought they only came in red and green! I will be on Yucca Do's website today. Beautiful blooms.

And I thought they only came in red and green! I will be on Yucca Do's website today. Beautiful blooms.

I just checked and they are sold out. Even contacted Yucca Do by email and they confirmed that there are no plants left for sale. bummer.

Clay,

I found out the same thing. I guess I will have to wait until next year.

Eric, I got both of these late fall/early winter. I planted them both out a couple of months ago and both promptly croaked on me. I don't think they like southwestern dryness. I would suspect, based on where they come from, that nigricans would be the tougher of the two (at least it took longer to croak).

Edited July 31, 200916 yr by Fouquieria

The M. nigricans has been a very vigorous grower, more so than the M. cyclocarpa. They are planted on a 6ft tall chain link fence. The M. cyclocarpa grew quick to the top and spread out and al the foliage is up top. The M. nigricans has grown quick too but has filled in.

The M. nigricans is planted next to a real Jade Vine, Strongylodon macrobotrys, that I am trying here. Thought the emerald green and blackish purple would be nice next to each other

I just sprouted a seed of M. nigricans and I SWEAR it has grown at a rate of over a foot a day. It already has true leaves (after 1 week).

I also bought (for less than $30) a plant of Mucuna sempervivens. Does anyone have experience with this one? It is growing great guns in the greenhouse, making me the glorious grower (and PRUNER) of Green Jade Vine, Mucuna benettii (Red Jade) , Mucuna sloanii, Mucuna sempervivens and Mucuna nigricans. I know they will take me over. Eventually.

I was wondering if anyone else here in California is successfully growing this plant? I'd guess that summer rainfall and humidity would probably be this plant's preference, given where it is from and who is successfully growing it, but does it need heat to bloom, and would it like Sunset zone 16/17 conditions/USDA zone 9b/10a conditions? It is very cool looking, and I've never seen one here in the San Francisco Bay Area before, nor any other Mucuna varieties, which would mostly all be too tropical/tender for our winters. I suspect that this plant would probably thrive at Quail gardens in Encinitas, or the whole coastal strip of zone 24 in southern California as long as it got watered, and want to hear that it is doable here in San Francisco as well, its gorgeous!

I got another Mucuna in a trade today...M. pruriens. Its another purple variety. ANyone growing it?

I got a few seeds to germinate, and they are growing well (fingers crossed). When I get back home, I'll check on them. I need at most two and want to spread them around if they look promising..

Jason

I was wondering if anyone else here in California is successfully growing this plant? I'd guess that summer rainfall and humidity would probably be this plant's preference, given where it is from and who is successfully growing it, but does it need heat to bloom, and would it like Sunset zone 16/17 conditions/USDA zone 9b/10a conditions? It is very cool looking, and I've never seen one here in the San Francisco Bay Area before, nor any other Mucuna varieties, which would mostly all be too tropical/tender for our winters. I suspect that this plant would probably thrive at Quail gardens in Encinitas, or the whole coastal strip of zone 24 in southern California as long as it got watered, and want to hear that it is doable here in San Francisco as well, its gorgeous!

On 7/31/2009 at 7:42 AM, Eric in Orlando said:

I noticed this morning that Mucuna cyclocarpa, Purple Jade Vine, is currently flowering. The flower clusters are about the size of a softball and resemble a cluster of grapes from a distance. It is native to southeastern China.

 

Now I'm waiting for Mucuna nigricans, the Black Jade Vine to flower.

 

 

 

 

 

Is the plant in Orlando still alive? Does it die back to the root in winter? Any tricks or advice about growing this? I had this for a short time in Austin and it seemed to love our hot summer, but did not survive the following wet winter in our clayey soils.  Was able to acquire another plant and am thinking about putting it in a raised bed of sand or possibly decomposed granite as the seller seems to have had it for several years in white sand in South Carolina.