A popular and decorative flower in the spring season is Petrea Volubilis (Neelmani vine). The tree is perennial and creeping in nature, plant can reach about 5 to 6 m (15-20 ft) in height. The petals of the flower are arranged in two layers, the lower layer is light purple and the upper layer is broad petals of dark purple color. Transplanting into soil does not require special maintenance.
In this article you will learn about how to grow and care for petrea volubilis. The scientific name of the Purple Wreath is Petrea volubilis. Other English names for the plant are Blue Bird Vine, Purple Wreath, Sandpaper Vine, Queen’s Wreath, and Sandpaper Vine. It is a shrubby, deciduous, perennial plant belonging to the genus Petrea in the Verbenaceae family. But the interesting thing is that this tree, called Queen’s Wreath, was named in Bengali(India) by the poet Rabindranath Tagore as “Neelmani Lata”. The flowering plant was named after Robert James Peters, a prominent 18th-century botanical collector. The plant is native to Mexico in Central America.
Petrea Volubilis: Purple Wreath All Care Tips
The Purple Wreath is found along rivers and oceans in the Antilles and Venezuela, from Mexico to Bolivia, Brazil and Paraguay. But nowadays, different species of Blue Bird Vine trees are seen in all countries. Depending on the plant’s climate, it can flower up to two times a year. Each flower of the Neelmani vine creeper has five petals. Each inflorescence consists of 10 to 30 or more flowers. Abundant flowers bloom in clusters at the top of each branch of the tree. Flowers begin to bloom at the end of winter and the beginning of spring, and with the coming of the next winter, the flowers are seen to decrease, that is, from March-April to September-October, the flowering season of the tree. Each flower on the plant lasts for 4-5 days and even if the flowers fall from the tree in a storm, the light blue-colored stems remain for many days. There are more than 130 species of sapphire vines in the world.
Petrea volubilis Place Selection :-
Purple Wreath should be transplanted to a place that gets 4 to 6 hours of sunlight a day. This will improve plant growth and reduce disease incidence. Flowering begins about 7-8 months after the plant is planted. ‘Neelmani Lata’ is a growing castellated plant. This plant grows in any type of well-drained soil.
Like other trees, if this tree can be planted directly in the ground, then it needs minimum care. Before planting the tree in the ground, the place should be prepared with organic fertilizers. Later, the tree itself will grow by absorbing nutrients from the soil according to its needs. However, it is necessary to apply fertilizer at the root of the tree at least once a year, but if you want to transplant the tree in a tub, then the important things like food, light, water, pesticides should be taken care of according to the needs of the tree, that complete management is described below.
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Tub selection and soil preparation:-
Purple Wreath (Petrea Volubilis) is a perennial plant, so it is better to choose a large potted tub. If transplanting in a tub, choose a 10-inch or 12-inch tub. As mentioned earlier, the plant does better in soil than in a tub, so the plant needs a lot of food to grow in a tub. Purple Wreath prefers a slightly heavier type of soil, i.e. loamy soil. Before transplanting this plant, two parts of soil should be taken and one part of organic manure (one year old cow dung/ leaf rot/ vermicompost ) should be taken, and the soil should be prepared with bone meal, horn stalks and neem cake in quantity and the plant should be transplanted in a tub. . When transplanting in a tub, cocopeat or wood powder should be used to retain soil moisture.
Substitution Method :-
First, the holes in the tub should be blocked with pieces of brick or broken pieces of pot. After blocking the holes, spread some sand-gravel in the tub to make a one-inch bed so that the excess water can drain out of the tub from the drainage system. After that, the plant should be placed right in the middle of the tub with a small amount of soil. After that, the soil should be tamped as needed because if tamped, the air in the soil is released, so there is no possibility of the roots of the plant rotting. After transplanting, it should be watered as usual.
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Petrea Volubilis Plant Care:-
At other times the plant does not require special care, but in winter the plant needs proper care. First, if the plant is in a tub, keep it in full sunlight and apply plant food regularly. The ideal flowering time for Purple Wreath is from March, hence from mid-winter the plants should be fed regularly.
To increase the number of flowers in the plant and to strengthen the cells, fertilizers rich in phosphorus and potash should be used (moderate amount). Place the tub plants in a place that does not get strong afternoon light during summer. Try to place the plants in a place that gets morning sun and afternoon sun. Petrea Volubilis plants should be watered sparingly in winter to keep the soil moist. However, it is very common to water tub plants twice a day during the summer. Take care during the rainy season, if it rains continuously, you can keep the tub tilted against the trees or you can keep it under the shed. After a few rains, dig up the soil in the tub, sprinkle with fungicide and leave the plant in the sun. Plants in tubs during the monsoon should be sprayed with fungicide every 10 to 12 days.
Propagation of the Petrea Volubilis:-
Three main methods can be adopted for propagation of Petria volubilis seedlings namely stem cutting, layering and seeding method. Planting by grafting method maintains the quality of the plant. For this, seedlings should be produced by double grafting method. A small amount of water is sufficient for this plant. Water regularly after planting. But care should be taken that the water does not become too much. Ideal time for planting from cuttings is July to August and February to March.
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FAQ [Frequently Asked Questions]
Is Petrea volubilis a perennial or annual?
Petrea volubilis is a perennial plant, with proper care Petrea volubilis can live for many years.
Can Petrea volubilis be grown in a container?
Yes, Petrea volubilis can be easily grown in a container. It is best to select a 10″ to 14″ diameter container before transplanting small plants and a larger container to accommodate the plant’s extensive root system or to grow larger varieties.
How do you take care of a Petrea?
Like any perennial flowering plant, Petria volubilis plants require full sunlight to flower. The plant can also tolerate semi-shaded sunlight, but you should not place the plant in full shade. Overall, if your vine gets 5-6 hours of direct sunlight, the plant will grow better and be less prone to disease.
How do you propagate Petrea volubilis?
For propagation of Petria volubilis, stem cuttings, layering and seeds are the three main methods.
