About
Araujia sericifera is a vigorous, climbing evergreen that twines as it grows. Its leaves are elongated, measuring around 10 cm in length. From late summer through autumn, it produces clusters of small, bell-shaped flowers that are either white or pale pink and emit a noticeable fragrance. The plant's sticky pollen clumps can ensnare visiting moths, which contributes to its common designation.
About the genus
Araujia consists of evergreen climbing shrubs characterized by their twisting stems rich in white latex. The leaves are simple and arranged in pairs, while the flowers are fragrant and salver-shaped, growing in umbels at the leaf axils. These flowers give way to large, inflated fruits that encase silky-tufted seeds.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Full sun, Partial shade
- Soil type
- Chalk, Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained, Well-drained
- Aspect
- South-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H2
Plant details
- Plant type
- Climber Wall Shrub, Conservatory Greenhouse
- Habit
- Climbing
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Height
- 8-12 metres
- Spread
- 4-8 metres
- Time to full height
- 2-5 years
- Suggested uses
- Mediterranean climate plants, City and courtyard gardens
- Native to
- South America
- Fragrance
- Flower
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Under glass grow in coarse, peat-free, loam-based compost in full light. Where temperatures do not fall below zero grow outdoors in well-drained, moderately fertile soil in sun or semi-shade
- Pruning
- Pruning group 11, in early spring
- Propagation
- Propagate by seed sown when ripe, or in spring. Root semi-ripe cuttings of lateral shoots with bottom heat in late summer
- Pest resistance
- May be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite
- Disease resistance
- Generally disease-free