Even without its soft pink blooms, this climber’s creamy-white variegated foliage would still turn heads. The Variegated Bower Vine, also known as Variegated Bower of Beauty, is a vigorous, evergreen, woody-stemmed climber with glossy, compound leaves—each leaflet a rich, dark green with beautiful, irregular margins of creamy-white to buttery yellow. From spring through summer and often into autumn, it produces an abundance of fragrant, trumpet-shaped flowers in soft pink to shell pink, each with a striking, deep ruby-red throat, creating a delicate, romantic display that attracts butterflies and hummingbirds.
Native to eastern Australia, this adaptable plant has proven wonderfully suited to South African gardens. It thrives in full sun to partial shade—bright light brings the most abundant flowers and maintains vibrant variegation. It prefers fertile, well-drained soil enriched with organic matter. Once established, it’s moderately drought-tolerant but performs best with regular watering, especially during Cape Town’s dry summer months. It’s hardy to light frost (to about -2°C for short periods); in colder inland valleys, it may drop leaves but usually resprouts vigorously in spring. With stems reaching 3–6 metres in length, it’s perfect for adorning pergolas, trellises, fences, and walls, or for spilling from large containers.
Key Features:
- Glossy, dark green leaves with beautiful, irregular creamy-white margins for bright, year-round contrast
- Fragrant, trumpet-shaped soft pink blooms with deep ruby-red throats from spring through autumn
- Fast-growing, twining stems perfect for rapidly covering trellises, pergolas, and fences
- Nectar-rich flowers irresistible to butterflies and hummingbirds
Gardening Note: Plant in full sun to partial shade in fertile, well-drained soil—full sun encourages the most abundant flowering and brightest variegation. Provide a sturdy support structure for twining stems. Water regularly until established; mature plants are moderately drought-tolerant but flower best with occasional deep watering during dry spells. Prune lightly after the main flowering flush to maintain shape and encourage vigorous flowering. Hardy to light frost; in colder inland areas, plant in a warm, sheltered spot or grow in a movable container.
