Growing Alata Mix Thunbergia Garden Seeds
- Taxonomy: Thunbergia alata
- Seed Type: Annual
- Sow Indoors or Outdoors: Sow Alata Mix thunbergias indoors in late autumn for indoor growth during warm winters, or direct outdoors in spring. For earliest blooms, sow indoors 6 – 8 weeks before final frost, or grow indoors throughout the winter in a warm, sunny room. Alata Mix thunbergias can be sown directly in the garden after final frost. Supports and trellises will be necessary soon after germination.
- Days to Maturity: 56 – 63 days
- Hardiness Zone: 9 – 11
- Planting Depth: ¼”
- Plant Spacing: 8 – 12"
- Growth Habit: 5 – 8' long vine with lush greens and several dozen 1 – 2” blooms
- Soil Preference: Moist, organic, nutrient-rich, well-drained
- Light Preference: Full sun
- Diseases/Pests/Troubleshooting: Alata Mix thunbergias are hardy, tolerant, and vigorous climbers, but can not grow properly in the shade. No serious pests or diseases.
- Color: Canary, orange, cream, and yellow petals against lush, trailing greens
Sow thunbergia Alata Mix seeds indoors in late autumn for warm winter blooming, or directly outdoors in spring. For earliest blooms, sow thunbergia Alata Mix seeds indoors 6 – 8 weeks before final frost, or grow indoors throughout the winter in a warm, sunny room. Alata Mix thunbergia seeds can be sown directly in the garden after final frost ¼” deep with 8 – 12” apart and 3” from support in moist, nutrient-rich, and well-drained soil in full sun. Supports and trellises will be necessary only weeks after germination. Alata Mix thunbergia seeds are hardy, tolerant, and vigorous climbers with no known pests or diseases. Thunbergia seeds will not flower correctly in shade and thrive in full sun. Alata Mix thunbergia seeds mature in 56 – 63 days as winding 5 – 8' vines with lush greens and several dozens of canary, orange, and cream 1 – 2” blooms.
Thunbergia alata is one of countless varieties of Black-Eyed Susan and is native to warm, tropical regions of Africa and southern Asia. The genus Thunbergia honors Carl Peter Thunberg, an 18th Century Swedish botanist, doctor, and explorer of the continent and is often referred to as the “father of South African botany.”