Bower of beauty facts for kids
Pandorea jasminoides, also known as the bower of beauty, bower vine, or bower plant, is a beautiful climbing plant. It's a type of woody vine that belongs to the Bignoniaceae family. This plant originally comes from the forests of eastern Australia. People often grow it in their gardens because it's a very attractive ornamental plant.
Quick facts for kids Bower of beauty |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Pandorea
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| Species: |
jasminoides
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Contents
What Does It Look Like?
This plant is a strong climber that can grow up to 8 meters (about 26 feet) tall! It has evergreen leaves, which means they stay green all year round. The leaves are made up of several smaller leaflets, usually four to seven of them. These leaflets are smooth and sit on a short stem.
Beautiful Flowers
In spring and summer, the bower vine shows off its amazing flowers. They are shaped like trumpets and are about 4 to 6 centimeters (1.5 to 2.5 inches) long. The flowers are usually white or pale pink. Inside, they have a deep maroon (dark reddish-brown) throat that is a bit hairy. Plus, they smell wonderful!
Interesting Fruits
After the flowers, the plant forms large, pointed pods. These pods are filled with flat, papery seeds. The seeds are easy to grow and have two main parts, which is typical for dicot plants. Each pod is about 4 to 6 centimeters (1.5 to 2.5 inches) long.
Where Does It Grow?
The bower vine naturally grows in the warm, humid parts of eastern Australia. You can find it in the subtropical coastal forests of New South Wales and Queensland. It prefers areas with dry forests.
Growing This Plant
This plant is often grown in gardens in warmer climates. It does best in places where the temperature doesn't usually drop below 5°C (41°F). If it gets too cold, especially when the plant is young, it might need to be kept in a cool greenhouse or conservatory. During the summer, you can move these plants outside.
People love to grow Pandorea jasminoides because of its many striking, trumpet-shaped flowers. It also blooms for a long time, making it a popular choice for adding beauty to gardens. This plant has even won an award called the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit for being an excellent garden plant.
