Beaumontia grandiflora (Easter Lily Vine) - A vigorous evergreen climber that can reach to 30 feet tall or more and as wide if a strong support is available. It has very large leaves that can reach 9 inches long and are a glossy green color with prominent veins and new growth has attractive brownish hairs. In late spring to early fall appear the terminal clusters of large (3-6 inch long by 4 inches wide) fragrant white flowers that are trumpet-shaped and resemble an Easter Lily.
Plant in full sun or light shade preferably in a rich soil and provide ample water. It is hardy to 28 degrees F and in cold years can be semi-deciduous - dislikes heavy wet soil in winter. If pruning is required, as it often is because this plant can get rather large, do so just after flowering to promote new flowering wood for the following year.
Beaumontia is a genus of 9 species of evergreen woody vines from the East Indies and Asia with this species ranging from Nepal and Southeast Tibet and Yunnan south through Assam, Burma (Myanmar) and Southeast Asia where it grows in scrub and on rocks and trees in forests from 1,000 to 5,000 feet in elevation. The genus was named in honor of Mrs. Diana Beaumont (1765-1831) of Bretton Hall, Yorkshire who was described in the Curtis Botanical Magazine Volume 7 (New Series) in 1833 as "an ardent lover and munificent patroness of Horticulture". It was described by Dr. Nathaniel Wallich (1786- 1854) in 1824 from plants sent to him from Bretton Hall. Wallich, a Danish Surgeon, became the Superintendent of the Calcutta Botanic Garden and leading botanist in India at the time, having replaced the famed Scottish surgeon and botanist William Roxburgh (1751-1815). Roxburgh had previously named this plant Echites grandiflora from plants found in the forests of Eastern Bengal (India) near Chittagong and Sylhet but it had not been validly published and so Wallich's name stands as correct. Other common names for this beautiful vine include Heralds Trumpet and Nepal Trumpet Flower. The specific epithet comes from the Latin words 'grandis' meaning "great" or "large" and 'flora' meaning flower in reference to the large flowers of this species.
The information about Beaumontia grandiflora displayed on this web page is based on our research conducted in the nursery's horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also include observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments we receive from others and welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share cultural information that would aid others in growing this plant. |