Thunbergia alata

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Black-eyed Susan vine

Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta
Class:	Magnoliopsida
Subclass:	Asteridae
Order:	Lamiales
Family:	Acanthaceae
Genus:	Thunbergia
Species:	T. alata

Binomial name

Thunbergia alata
Bojer ex Sims

Thunbergia alata, commonly known as black-eyed Susan vine, is an invasive species,^{[citation needed]} which is used like an ornamental plant. This plant is native Eastern Africa, and it is found in Cerrado vegetation of Brazil and Hawaii. It is found in eastern Australia and the southern United States, Texas and Florida.^[1]

1 Dimensions
2 Growth and care
3 Synonyms
4 See also
5 References
6 External links

[edit] Dimensions

Depending on the conditions, T. alata grows to a height of 6-8 ft. (1.8-2.4 m) in tropical zones, but much less as a container plant or as an annual. It favours sun to partial shade and the flowers, though typically a warm orange can range through red, orange, red-orange and bright yellow with the characteristic chocolate-purple centre which inspires the common name.^[2]

[edit] Growth and care

Soft five-petal blooms appear in late Spring/early Summer, mid Summer and again in late Summer, early Autumn (Fall). The leaves are heart shaped dicotyledons^[3] and the plant is an evergreen perennial. The plant is self-propagating but propagation methods for gardeners include herbaceous stem cuttings, and from seed. In the northern hemisphere seed is sown indoors before last frost and direct sowing after the last frost of the season.^[4]

To collect seeds, seedheads are allowed to dry on plants before removal and seed collection.