A vigorous twining vine with sweetly fragrant flowers that open white and age to creamy yellow in spring. It stays evergreen in Phoenix and quickly covers a fence or trellis. It grows aggressively, so it needs room and regular trimming.
Living with it in the Phoenix Valley
Watering
Follow the shrub schedule in our Landscape Care guide. It is not a desert plant and needs supplemental water all year to look its best.
Pruning
Cut back after the spring bloom to control size and thin out tangled stems. Without regular trimming, it builds up a thick, woody mass.
Heat
Intense summer sun on a west exposure scorches the leaves and tender stems. Morning sun with afternoon shade suits it best.
How our designers use it
Fragrance near seating
Our designers place it on a trellis or arbor near a patio or entry, where the spring scent can be enjoyed up close.
Quick fence cover
It covers chain-link or wood fencing quickly in a spot with afternoon shade.
Contained areas
We generally keep it where it can be easily reached for trimming and away from trees and shrubs it could smother.
Good to know
Spreading
It is considered highly invasive in wetter parts of the country. In Phoenix, dry conditions limit it, but stems root where they touch moist soil and it can smother nearby plants if left alone.
Around the pool
Fragrant flowers draw bees in spring, and it drops leaves and berries. Keep it back from the pool edge.
