Tantalizing Tropical Trumpets – Beaumontia grandiflora

Usually white flowers don’t do a whole lot for me.  They can be a little bland or a little boring.  However, they can symbolize peace, purity, and hope.  They can summon the idea of something cleansing, virginal, and pristine.  As a person who seeks out the wild and woolly there are not that many white flowers that fit the bill.  Well…if I had to choose a white flower to really fall in love with I think I would choose the tantalizingly tropical trumpets of Beaumontia grandiflora commonly called the Easter Lily Vine.  It’s like mother nature created a recipe for a white flower that I, The Plant Provocateur, would actually like.  Seeing that’s the case I had to share. Beaumontia grandiflora comes to us from India.  It is an exotic example of taking something as simple as a white flowering vine and giving it a beautifully bewitching twist.   That twist comes from its big boldness.

First things first.  This ‘Easter Lily’ is a vine.  Secondly, it produces huge white trumpet-like flowers that can reach over a half a foot in length and 4-5 inches wide. Thirdly, these big ol’ blooms give off a seductive yet fresh fragrance.  Lastly, this vine has a lush, super tropical vibe to it.  It’s got big, bodacious, glamorously glossy leaves that extend from velvety voluptuous vining stems.  Beaumontia grandiflora is evergreen and can grow up to 30 feet in length.  It does well in sun or shade settings, likes rich, well-draining soil, regular water, and temps above 30 degrees fahrenheit/-1 degree celsius.  It would grow beautifully on something that could give it strong support like a pergola or a hefty trellis.  Once it gets growing it will flower in spring and again in fall when temps are pleasant not hot.  I’ve seen this for sale at The Dream Garden in Hollywood and available for mail order online.  It definitely gives you something different with its bold and beautiful bounty!