Garlic Vine Plant

Mansoa alliacea

Family

Bignoniaceae

Origin

South America & South India

Description

Garlic Vine, the name derived because the leaves when crushed smells like garlic. However, it doesn't smell if the plant is left alone.

It is beautiful ornamental flowering vine with opposite leaves divided into two ovates leaflets. It produces numerous woody vines from the root that grow only 2-3 m tall and form a shrub-like appearance with bright green leaves up to 15 cm long. Blooming twice a year, flowers are funnel shaped , start off purple with white throat and change to a lighter shade of lavender with age. Eventually fading to almost white.Three different color of flowers can be seen at the same time on the plant.

The plant is used as herbal medicine in Peru & Brazil as an analgesic, anti-inflammatory and anti-rheumatic. An infusion or leaves in decoction is used as a common remedy for Cold, flue, pneumonia, cough, fever and headache.

Environment

Garlic vine will grow in virtually any kind of soil in full sun to half shade conditions. It grow on well-drained soils with moderate watering. Watering should be regular & thorough. During the hot dry season , it can take twice a day watering.

The plant needs to be trimmed after each flowering season. New buds will appear after few days of trimming.

Garlic vine generally doesn't need fertilizer because the growth is rampant enough without additional nitrogen. For container plants, if you want more vigorous growth, apply organic fertilizer or NPK -20-20-20 until it is time to flower.

Landscape Use

Annual vine for trellises, arbors or fences as well as suited for Containers