Thunbergia erecta

Growing in Pots, Balconies & Indoors

Bush clockvine (Thunbergia erecta) is a 1-2 m (3-6 ft) flowering shrub that the grower does well in a large container on a sunny patio or balcony, but it is not a houseplant – indoor light is simply too weak for this sun-lover to flower.

Quick Details

• Container Size: A large pot, roughly 20-40 L (5-10 gal) for a mature bush
• Indoor Suitability: Not a houseplant; needs strong outdoor light to bloom
• Best Spot: Full sun to half shade – a warm, bright patio or balcony
• Soil & Drainage: Rich, well-aerated mix that drains freely
• Watering in Pots: Average to generous – pots dry fast, so keep the mix evenly moist but never waterlogged

Indoors & On the Windowsill

• Houseplant limits: The grower marks it as not suitable indoors – a room’s light is too weak for it to flower well.
• Windowsill: At most, try a very bright, sunny sill; even then expect leggy growth and few blooms.
• Overwintering: In climates colder than zone 10 it is tender – pot it up so it can be moved to a bright, frost-free spot over winter.

On a Balcony or Patio

• Light & wind: Give it the sunniest spot; walls, railings and paving throw back heat so pots dry quickly – check moisture often and shelter or stake it on an exposed, windy balcony.
• Practicalities: Account for the weight of a full pot and make sure drainage water can run away freely without staining the balcony.

Choosing the Pot, Soil & Long-Term Care

• Pot & drainage: Use a pot with strong drainage holes and skip a standing-water saucer to avoid root rot; terracotta breathes and dries faster, while glazed or plastic holds moisture longer.
• Potting mix: Well-aerated and organic-rich – a quality potting mix, or peat/coir with perlite or vermiculite.
• Feeding: Potted plants use up their soil faster as nutrients leach out with each watering – feed lightly through the growing season.
• Repotting: Refresh the surface mix each year and pot on or divide every couple of years, trimming the roots lightly once it fills the container.

Bloom & Flower Guide

Quick Details

• Bloom Season: Spring, summer and autumn — nearly year-round in warm, frost-free climates
• Time to First Bloom: Once the plant is established, within its first year in the ground
• Flower Appearance: Fragrant, trumpet-to-saucer-shaped flowers in deep purple (occasionally white), often with a pale throat
• Edibility: Ornamental / none

Detailed Blooming Overview

Bush clockvine, or King’s mantle, flowers over a very long season — almost continuously where it stays warm. The flowers flare from a slender tube into a flat, saucer-like face of rich purple (sometimes white), lightly fragrant and set off against neat, dark green foliage. Because it blooms so freely and keeps a tidy shape, it is often grown as a low flowering hedge.

Flower Characteristics

• Trumpet-to-saucer-shaped flowers, purple or white.
• Lightly fragrant, usually with a paler eye.
• Produced steadily over a long season on a bushy, evergreen plant.

Bloom Care & Thinning

• Managing the bloom: Light, regular trimming keeps it flowering and shapely; it reblooms quickly after a clip.
• Pollination & wildlife: The tubular flowers attract bees and other pollinators.