The illustrated growing guide
Black-Eyed Susan Vine
Thunbergia alata
Family Acanthaceae
Grown as an annual
A cheerful, well-mannered annual vine — not too big — that covers a mailbox post, small trellis, or hanging basket in nonstop orange, yellow, or cream flowers with dark centers all summer. Easy from seed, blooms until frost, and modern colors like 'African Sunset' are gorgeous terracotta-rose blends. Perfect where you want a vine but not a monster.
Full Sun to Part Shade
Moderate water
Fast growth
Attracts bees
None winter chill
From the print shop
Growing black-eyed susan vine? Hang it.
Our Vines & Climbers collection carries black-eyed susan vine — Thunbergia alata, print Nº 12, “Black Eyed Susan Vine.”
16 designsfrom $21.99white or black groundmatte poster, unframed
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Overview
Will black-eyed susan vine suit your garden, and what goes wrong.
Will it thrive where you are?
Enter your ZIP — we look up your USDA hardiness zone (2023 map) and check it against what black-eyed susan vine actually needs.
Life cycleAnnualBlack-Eyed Susan Vine at a glance
Common black-eyed susan vine problems
- Aphids
- Spider Mites
- Whitefly
- Almost none
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Growing
Light, water, soil, propagation and the season’s jobs.
How to grow black-eyed susan vine: light, water & soil
How to plant & propagate black-eyed susan vine
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The year
What black-eyed susan vine asks for, month by month.
The black-eyed susan vine year, month by month
BloomWhat each band means
- Bloom — flowers open — pollinators working, frost on blossoms is the danger.
The black-eyed susan vine year as text
- Jan quiet month
- Feb quiet month
- Mar quiet month
- Apr quiet month
- May quiet month
- Jun bloom
- Jul bloom
- Aug bloom
- Sep quiet month
- Oct quiet month
- Nov quiet month
- Dec quiet month
These are the species' typical months — expect them a few weeks earlier in warm zones and later in cold ones. Watch the plant, not just the calendar.
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Ecology & uses
What it does for the garden, and what it is grown for.
Black-Eyed Susan Vine in the garden system
- Vine layer vine
- Nectary/insectary
What black-eyed susan vine is grown for
✓ Not known to be toxic
Edibility, identification, and traditional-use notes here are general reference — not medical or veterinary advice, and not a claim that any plant treats or prevents anything. Medicinal ratings record how strongly a plant features in herbal tradition, nothing more. Never eat or dose a plant you have not positively identified. More on how to use this library.
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Cultivars
Named varieties of black-eyed susan vine, ruled as a catalogue.
Best black-eyed susan vine varieties & cultivars
'Susie' series (orange/yellow/white with eyes); 'African Sunset' (warm terracottas); 'Arizona' series
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Sources & plant ID
Where the care distinctions come from, and how the plant is filed.
Research basis
Sources behind this profile
No extension citations are attached to black-eyed susan vineyet. The care figures below come from the library's own catalogue rather than a traced primary source.
Plant ID
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Where to buy
Third-party nurseries — not Story Thyme Farms.
Third-party nurseries, not Story Thyme Farms. Prices are theirs.
Story Thyme Farms may earn a small commission from these links, at no cost to you — it never changes what we recommend.
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Questions
Black-Eyed Susan Vine questions, answered straight.
Is black-eyed susan vine safe for kids and pets?
Black-Eyed Susan Vine is commonly eaten and isn't considered toxic, but "commonly eaten" isn't a guarantee for any particular person or animal — allergies, quantity, and which part you eat all matter. Never eat a plant you haven't positively identified, and check with a vet before letting pets or livestock graze anything new.
How do you propagate black-eyed susan vine?
From seed.
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Elsewhere
Where black-eyed susan vine sits in the library.
Sweet Pea
Morning Glory
Clematis
Wisteria