Queen’s Wreath (Petrea volubilis)

This woody climber from Central America puts on a spectacular display of lavender-purple flowers in late winter or early spring in indoor/greenhouse culture. The key to flowering is a full sun exposure and allowing the vining stems to develop side branches from which the flower buds emerge. The chains of blooms on mature plants resemble cascading wisteria. As the flowers pass, the calyxes fall from the flowers and spin to the ground like whirligigs. Great fun for children of all ages.