How to grow Queen's Wreath

Petrea is hardy to the high 20’s but not much colder. It prefers moist soils, but once established, it may take heavy drought¹. The plant has no severe insect or disease problems¹. Mulch and use fertilizer for acid plants if your soil is alkaline¹. In the tropics, it can reach up to 12m in height, but in more temperate regions, it generally grows 3-4m tall.

It requires some form of support to maintain its climbing habit, and if left to its own devices, will clamour over nearby shrubs and trees. If pruned regularly it can be kept as a large shrub³. This vine flowers best in full sun, but will take semi-shade. The purple wreath is known to tolerate periods of dry weather, but for the best results, water it well in the dry summer rainfall regions, and protect it from strong wind³. It will adapt to most garden soils, but prefers fertile, slightly acid, well-drained soil. Fertilise during the growing season with a balanced organic fertiliser³.

No serious insect or disease problems. Bear in mind this plant is susceptible to mold. Watch for scale and mealy bugs. Spider mites are less frequent visitors.⁴

Can also be propogated from woody stem cuttings, semi-hardwood cuttings². From seed; sow indoors before last frost, direct sow after last frost².

This is a charming flower to cut for the house but it will be found that, if the woody stem is cut, the blooms will rapidly droop and die¹. If, however, the flower-sprays only are cut and arranged in a shallow bowl, they will remain fresh for several days¹.

Collect seedhead/pod when flowers fade; allow to dry².

These estimates for how long Queen's-wreath takes to sprout, grow and harvest are from real observations from real gardeners, right around the world.

The genus name Petrea was given to commemorate the name of Lord Petre, who, in the 18th Century, became famous for his wonderful collection of exotic plants¹. The species name volubilis means “twining.” One of the common names “Fleur de Dieu” means “Flower of God”, another – “Sandpaper Vine” – refers to the rough leaves¹.

Blue bird vine, Sandpaper vine, Purple Wreath, Fleur de Dieu (French), Petrea, Perskransie (Afrikaans), Florida Wisteria

Petrea volubilis L., Petrea arborea, Petrea subserrata, Petrea kohautiana, Petrea aspera, Petrea racemosa

Misspellings: Petria, Petria volubilis

¹ Top Tropicals

² Petrea on Dave’s Garden

³ Gardening in South Africa

⁴ Missouri Botanical Garden entry on Petrea