How to Grow Thunbergia
'Amber Eyes' from Seed
A softer black-eyed Susan vine in warm amber and apricot with a dark chocolate eye. A twining climber that fills a wigwam or obelisk by August.
Black-eyed Susan vine is usually sold in hard orange with a black centre. 'Amber Eyes' is the gentler version, in warm amber and apricot that pales towards the throat, with the same striking dark chocolate eye.
It twines rather than clings, so it needs something to wind around, such as canes, wire, an obelisk or the stems of a shrub. In a large pot with a wigwam it will cover the whole structure by August. It is tender, so the secret is waiting for warm nights before it goes outside.
Quick Facts at a Glance
Plant Type
Half-hardy annual climber
Sowing Time
Mar to Apr, under cover
Flowering
July to September
Position
Full sun, sheltered
Support
Canes, wire or obelisk
Difficulty
2 out of 5, easy
Understanding the Plant
'Amber Eyes' is a variety of Thunbergia alata, the black-eyed Susan vine from East Africa. It is a perennial in warm climates but grown here as a half-hardy annual, climbing by twisting its stems around supports.
It grows slowly in cool weather and then takes off once the summer warms up, flowering steadily until the first frost.
Patience pays
Put out too early into cold ground, thunbergia sulks and can take weeks to recover. Wait until nights are reliably mild, usually late May or June, and it will quickly make up for lost time.
When & How to Sow
Sow indoors in March or April in warmth. Individual pots avoid disturbing roots when you plant out.
Pots for patios
A 30cm pot with a wigwam of three or four canes makes an easy summer feature. Use multipurpose compost and put the pot in the sunniest, most sheltered spot you have.
Sow 1cm deep. Sow two seeds per 9cm pot and keep at around 20 to 24°C. Seedlings usually appear in one to three weeks.
Add a small cane. Give seedlings a short cane to twine up as they grow, and keep them warm and bright.
Plant out when warm. Harden off and plant out from late May to June, around 30cm apart, at the base of supports in full sun.
Growing On Tips
Warm and sunny
A sheltered, sunny position gives the most flowers.
Twining support
Canes, wire, string or an obelisk all work. Guide young stems onto the support to get them started.
Pick off faded flowers
Removing spent blooms keeps it flowering for longer.
Regular water
Water pots often in summer; don't let the compost dry out completely.
Light feeding in pots
A balanced liquid feed every couple of weeks helps container plants.
Climbing through shrubs
Let it scramble through an early-flowering shrub for late summer colour.
Common Problems & How to Fix Them
| Problem | Likely Cause | What to Do |
|---|---|---|
| Plants stall after planting out | Cold nights or cold soil | Wait until nights are mild before planting out. |
| Slow germination | Too cool | Keep seed at 20 to 24°C. |
| Stems flopping on the ground | No support | Provide canes or wire and guide stems onto them early. |
| Few flowers | Shade or dry compost | Move to full sun and water regularly. |
| Mottled leaves under cover | Red spider mite | Mist plants and increase humidity; move outside once warm. |
When to Expect Flowers
Plants sown in spring and planted out in early summer usually flower from July until the first frost.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🌱 Sow under cover | ||||||||||||
| 🪴 Plant out | ||||||||||||
| 🌸 Flowering |
Plant Specifications
A soft amber climber for summer pots
Sow warm in spring, plant out once the nights are mild and give it something to twine around. By August it will be covered in amber flowers.
Shop Thunbergia Amber Eyes Seeds →