Virginia Tech Dendrology

crossvine Bignoniaceae Bignonia capreolata L. symbol: BICA
Leaf: Opposite, compound with only two leaflets, evergreen (or nearly so), ovate to lanceolate, entire margins, 3 to 5 inches long, rachis ends with a branched tendril, dark green in summer, bronze red in winter.
Flower: Attractive, tube like, flaring and spreading at the ends, 2 inches long, reddish brown on outside, and brighter and orange to yellow on the inside, appears in spring.
Fruit: Long (4 to 7 inches), slender, flat capsule, brown containing numerous winged seeds, matures in late summer.
Twig: gray-brown somewhat square, cross-section reveals a cross pattern, numerous tendrils with suction cups on ends.
Bark: Gray-brown, becoming finely scaly with longitudinal splits.
Form: A high climbing, twining vine with tendrils.
Looks like: trumpet creeper

Additional Range Information: Bignonia capreolata is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting. Download the full-size PDF map.
More Information: Fall Color
External Links: USDA Plants Database
All material 2021 Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation; Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson; Silvics reprinted from Ag Handbook 654; range map source information