Jade Vine: The World’s Most Unusual Flower

The jade vine is one of the most unusual plants in the world. Its long trusses of turquoise-green flowers look like jewelled pendants, and the colour is almost unknown elsewhere in nature. Here is where Strongylodon comes from, what pollinates it and whether you can grow a jade vine in a glasshouse.

Fresh flowers for your home or as a gift: potted plants and flower baskets.

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What kind of plant it is

Strongylodon macrobotrys is an evergreen climber of the pea family, related to beans and wisteria. In the wild it grows only in the tropical rainforests of the Philippines, where it climbs trees up to 20 m high. Its trusses hang down 1–3 m, each bearing dozens of curved, claw-shaped flowers 6–8 cm long.

The unusual turquoise colour comes from an anthocyanin pigment combined with a co-pigment in slightly alkaline cell sap. At dusk the flowers seem almost to glow, although they don't actually emit light.

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What pollinates the jade vine

In the wild, jade vines are pollinated by bats, which hang upside down on the trusses to reach the nectar and pick up pollen. Because of rainforest clearance and the loss of its pollinators, the species is considered vulnerable, and botanical gardens help conserve it.

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Can you grow a jade vine?

Jade vine cannot grow outdoors in Ukraine — it can't tolerate temperatures below 15 °C. It is grown in large heated glasshouses and conservatories, and even there it doesn't always flower. If you have suitable conditions:

• Warmth: at least 18–20 °C all year, with no draughts.
• Light: bright and indirect, with the roots kept shaded.
• Humidity: high, with regular misting.
• Watering: generous during growth, keeping the soil moist but not waterlogged.
• Soil: loose, rich in humus and well-drained.
• Support: tall and sturdy — a pergola or arch so the trusses can hang down.
• Pests: mealybugs, spider mites and aphids — check the leaves regularly.

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Growing from seed

Jade vine seeds lose viability quickly, so sow them as soon as they are collected. Soak them in warm water for 1–2 days and lightly file the hard seed coat at the side without damaging the embryo. Sow in a moist mix of peat and vermiculite or coir at 25–28 °C. Seedlings grow fast but take several years to flower.

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Where to see it

You can see jade vines in the tropical glasshouses of major European botanical gardens, such as the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in London. They usually flower in spring.

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FAQ

Why is the jade vine turquoise?

Because an anthocyanin pigment combines with a co-pigment in slightly alkaline cell sap.

Can you grow a jade vine in a flat?

Practically no: it needs lots of space, high humidity and constant warmth, as in a tropical glasshouse.

Love unusual flowers? Read about the giant Victoria water lily, and order a bouquet with delivery in Kyiv from UFL.

Author: Maria Svitlovir

Graduated from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Institute of Biology and Medicine (2001). BSc in Biology, MSc in Horticulture. Writes about plants, works at a garden centre selecting and repotting plants, and contributes to plant reference guides.

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