Accession Count: 42
Common Name:
purple orchid vine, lavender orchid vine
Family Name:
Malpighiaceae (Malpighia Family)
Botanical Name:
Mascagnia lilacina
Sub Species:
Variety:
Forma:
Cultivar:
Characteristics:
Mascagnia lilacina is an evergreen twining vine featuring vibrant purple flowers that appear Spring to Fall (1, 2, 3, 4, 5). Leaves are one to two inches long (1), have an ovate morphology, and small hairs that can cause skin irritation (2, 5). In the fall, the flowers morph into seed pods that resemble butterflies (5). M. lilacina is a hardy and tough vine that will grow up to twenty feet tall climbing a fence or trellis (1, 2, 4, 5).
Compound:
Mas lil
Geographic Origin:
Chihuahuan Desert
Ecozone Origin:
Biome Origin:
Natural History:
The M. lilacina originates in the Chihuahuan desert that is located in, South-west Texas, South New Mexico, South-east Arizona and Northern Mexico (7).
Cultivation Notes:
M. lilacina prefers well drained soils and moderate amounts of water (1, 2, 4, 5). It is slightly drought resistant, but lack of water will affect the plant's appearance (1, 4). This vine is cold hardy into the low twentys, but will grow back if it dies off during a freeze (5). The lavender orchid vine is moderately fast growing and takes one or two seasons to become established. Once established, the lavender orchid vine is not as vigorous as M. macroptera, allowing them to be used in smaller spaces.
Ethnobotany:
Height:
11 - 15 feet
Width:
11 - 15 feet
Growth Rate:
Fast Growing
Grow Season:
Spring
Flower Season:
Summer
Color:
Purple
Function:
Screen
Spread:
Spreading
Allergen:
Invasive:
Benign
Toxicity:
Benign
Hardy:
Semi-hardy
Water Use:
Moderate Water Use
