This is a nice annual twining climbing vine for northern climates. It is a perennial vine in its native South Africa. I see it occasionally in people's yards in the Midwest and Eastern US on some kind of trellis, fence, or pole set-up. It can also be used as a trailing plant in window boxes, urns, hanging baskets, or pots. It has opposite triangular-ovate leaves to about 3 inches long that have leaf petioles that are winged. The solitary flowers are funnel-shaped with a black eye and 5 petals that usually are yellow, then orange the second most, but cream or white color is also possible. The best flower display is in late summer or early fall when temperatures are not really hot. It likes moist, fertile soil. It is offered at many conventional garden centers or nurseries sold as potted plants or as seed in packages. The seeds can be started outside directly or can be started 6 to 8 weeks before transplanting outside, and seeds germinate in two weeks at 70-75 degrees F. The genus Thunbergia was named after Carl Peter Thunberg, a 12th century Swedish botanist.

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