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. See states reporting crossvine. More: Fall Color External Links: USDA Plants Database © Copyright 2016, Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation, all rights reserved. Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson