Kew today - See our stunning clock vine

This beautiful vine can reach up to 20 feet in length.

Do you like this?
Close Do you like this?
Yes

26 likes
1 comment

Clock vine (Thunbergia mysorensis) in Kew's Princess of Wales Conservatory. (Image: RBG Kew)

If you can keep your eyes off the ever increasing amount of orchids and bromeliads that are rapidly taking over the Princess of Wales Conservatory in preparation for Kew's annual Tropical Extravaganza festival, you may notice a stunning yellow and red flower hanging down near the aquatic display.

This is the clock vine, or Thunbergia mysorensis, an exotic, woody-stemmed, evergreen climbing flowering plant, native to India. The name 'mysorensis' derives from the city of Mysore in the south of India. It is also sometimes called the "brick & butter vine" or "dolls' shoes".

The vine often reaches 20 feet and has glossy green leaves. From winter through to summer wave after wave of eye-catching flowers are produced, hanging down from the vine in long clusters. Growers in the Americas have noticed that hummingbirds love them!

Don't miss it - get your tickets to Kew Gardens today!

Share your pictures with Kew...

Join Your Kew on Flickr and share your favourite photos of Kew Gardens and Wakehurst Place.
Get involved in Kew's People's Arboretum on Flickr and post pictures of your favourite trees - wherever they live in the world!
Become a Fan of Kew on Facebook and share your pics with our network of friends.