Sunny^™ Rose Sensation Black-eyed Susan Vine Thunbergia alata

Grown in Zone 8b – South Carolina I plant two thunbergia vines each year to climb trellised downspouts framing my sunroom. I’ve had consistent success with the varieties in the A-Peel series, which reliably climb and produce abundant blooms in my garden conditions. For the 2025 season, I decided to try this new variety, hoping to add a pink-flowering option to my garden. After two months in the ground, I’ve observed that this variety does not perform as expected compared to the A-Peel series. It shows little to no natural vining or twining behavior—rather than climbing the trellis, the vines tend to sprawl on the ground, requiring manual training every few days. In contrast, the Lemon A-Peel planted nearby has naturally climbed the same style of structure with no assistance. Additionally, flower production has been minimal, with only 3–4 blooms total across two plants. By comparison, both Lemon and Tangerine A-Peel are blooming prolifically under the same soil, light, and care conditions. While the foliage is healthy, and the plant could serve as an attractive ground cover if bloom production improved, it currently lacks the performance and visual impact I was hoping for. I’m giving it two stars based on potential as a ground cover, but it falls short as a climbing, flowering vine in my experience.