Pronounciation: Do-li-CHAN-dra un-GU-is CAT-ii

Hardiness zones:
Sunset 8-24
USDA 9-11 (arid and semiarid regions best)

Landscape Use: Wall or fence covering, trellis or green wall, arbor.

Form & Character: Extending, spreading, tough yet refined, dainty yet dominant, wirey.

Growth Habit: Evergreen, semi-woody, broadleaf perennial vine, twining, vigorously climbing from 25 to 100 feet.

Foliage/Texture: Dark green, dimorphic, juvenile plants with small leaflets 1-inch long, 1/2-inch wide, mature leaflets rarely seen in Phoenix landscapes are narrowly ovate to lanceolate, 3- to 5-inches long, 1/2- to 2-inches wide, both surfaces sparsely lepidote, tendril deciduous, 3-forked, to 1-inch long, each fork bearing a small horny hook. Stems thin to wiry, strong and flexible, cylindrical; fine texture.

Flowers & Fruits: Inflorescences are axillary with one to three flowers. Each flower is 2- to 4-inches long and tubular with five lobes, calyx is cup like, color is yellow with red-orange lines in the throat. Fruits are flattened dehiscent capsules to 12-inches long, green when immature, dark brown when mature, winged seeds are dispersed by the wind.

Seasonal Color: Spectacular yellow flowers briefly in late March to early April.

Temperature: VERY heat loving.

Light: Full sun

Soil: Tolerant

Watering: Drought tolerant once established.

Pruning: Prune as needed, can even prune to ground after bloom to reinvigorate growth.

Propagation: Seed and cutting.

Disease and Pests: None

Additional comments: Cat's claw vine is one of the few heat-loving vines for the arid southwest and is thus noted as an excellent Phoenix landscape performer. It can even be trained to grow up and cover south facing "hot" walls. It needs support when trained as a wall cover because it is known to become top heavy and collapse off of a wall. Care should be taken as cat claw vine can vigorously invade the crown of a tree or cover a house.