Cat's Claw (Macfadyena unguis-cati)

Cat's Claw
Scientific Name: Macfadyena unguis-cati (L.) A.H. Gentry
Synonym: Doxantha unguis-cati, Bignonia tweediana
Family: Bignoniaceae

Show Larger Picture Recommended Temperature Zone:
sunset: 8-29, 31
USDA: 8b,10

Frost Tolerance: Hardy to 15°F (-9°C)
Sun Exposure: Full sun to light shade. Tolerates reflected heat.
Origin: Central America.
Growth Habits: Self attaching evergreen vine, fast grower to 25 feet. In Phoenix evergreen.
Watering Needs: Some water in summer, generally drought tolerant.
Propagation: Seeds, cuttings under mist, offsets

The Cat's claw is a popular climbing plant in Phoenix, it will take full sun on a south wall, and will climb on any support, clinging to the wall. It blooms mostly in spring for a couple of weeks, and then sporadically throughout summer.

Cultural Practices:
Plant anytime. Cutting the plant to the ground after planting is the only way to try to make it attach faster. Trim down hard after bloom to prevent the plant from becoming top-heavy. Necessitates frequent pruning to keep balanced.

Blooming Habits:
Yellow trumpet shaped flowers in late March, early April, occasionally, blooms again in the fall. The flowers are followed by long seed pods.

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