Black-eyed Susan (Thunbergia alata 'VOLTHU 1007' SUNNY ARIZONA GLOW)

Overview

The striking Thunbergia alata ‘VOLTHU 1007’ SUNNY ARIZONA GLOW brings dramatic color to summer gardens, known commonly as Black-eyed Susan vine. This vigorous selection excels at creating a lush, flowering screen in warm weather, featuring vivid orange-red flowers dramatically contrasted by small, dark centers. As a tropical native, it behaves best as an annual in cooler climates, though it remains a twining evergreen in truly frost-free zones.

Gardeners value this plant for its continuous, prolific blooming habit, providing color well into the late season when many other annuals begin to fade. Whether grown vertically on a structure or allowed to drape over the edges of a container, the Thunbergia alata ‘VOLTHU 1007’ SUNNY ARIZONA GLOW offers rapid coverage and tropical flair. Growing this specific cultivar ensures you receive the rich red-orange tones that define the SUNNY ARIZONA GLOW series.

Fast Facts

• Plant Family: Acanthaceae
• Plant Type: Vine
• Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 10-11
• Size at Maturity:
  • Height: 5-8 ft
  • Spread: 1.5-2 ft
• Bloom Time: Flowers freely
• Bloom Description: Orange-red with black center eye
• Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
• Water Needs: Medium
• Maintenance Level: Medium

How to Grow

For the best results with your Black-eyed Susan vine, plant after all danger of frost has passed if growing as an annual. This vine thrives in organically rich, fertile, medium-moisture soils that are well-drained. While it tolerates full sun, providing afternoon shade helps the plant maintain vigor during peak summer heat.

Water is crucial; maintain medium moisture levels throughout the active growing season. If starting from seed, sow directly once temperatures are warm, or start indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost date for an earlier display of those signature flowers. Pruning is generally minimal; guide the twining vines onto supports as they grow.

In zones outside 10-11, treat this as a superb annual display. Alternatively, consider overwintering by bringing patio containers indoors to a warm, sunny room. Late summer cuttings also provide a method to preserve favorite specimens for the following season.

Landscape Uses

The versatility of Thunbergia alata ‘VOLTHU 1007’ SUNNY ARIZONA GLOW makes it an indispensable warm-season material. Utilize its climbing habit on trellises, arbors, or fences to quickly dress up vertical, utilitarian spaces around the home. It serves wonderfully as a temporary, vibrant ground cover where fast spreading is desired.

For accent planting, incorporate this vine into large patio containers alongside upright materials or spillers. Its fast growth makes it excellent for filling out hanging baskets, allowing the vine to twist around the basket supports, creating a dramatic, colorful cascade. The bright shades of the Black-eyed Susan vine pair well with contrasting foliage plants like deep purple sweet potato vine or silver-leafed annuals.

Flower Qualities

• Showy

Noteworthy Characteristics

Thunbergia alata, commonly called black-eyed Susan vine, is native to tropical areas of East Africa. As an annual in most regions, it will grow to 3-8’ tall in a single season, featuring ovate-triangular toothed green leaves and solitary axillary flowers with dark throats. Blooms transition from summer into fall, often peaking after high summer temperatures moderate. SUNNY ARIZONA GLOW is a vigorous selection of black-eyed Susan vine that features red-orange flowers with black center eyes, reaching up to 8’ tall and 2’ wide in one growing season.

Tolerances

Potential Problems

Indoor cultivation of Thunbergia alata ‘VOLTHU 1007’ SUNNY ARIZONA GLOW requires vigilance against common houseplant pests. Monitor carefully for common issues such as scale insects, spider mites, and whiteflies, especially when temperatures drop and the vine is moved indoors for overwintering. Ensure good air circulation when growing indoors to discourage fungal issues and check leaf undersides frequently for early infestation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What hardiness zones is Black-eyed Susan suitable for?

This specific cultivar, Thunbergia alata ‘VOLTHU 1007’ SUNNY ARIZONA GLOW, is winter hardy only in USDA Zones 10 and 11. Gardeners outside these zones should treat it as a fast-growing annual.

How large does Black-eyed Susan grow?

As an annual vine, this planting will reach heights between 5 and 8 feet tall within one growing season, spreading approximately 1.5 to 2 feet wide.

What sun exposure does Thunbergia alata ‘VOLTHU 1007’ SUNNY ARIZONA GLOW need?

This vine performs best when situated in full sun to an area that receives partial shade, benefiting specifically from some afternoon shade during extremely hot weather.

When does Black-eyed Susan bloom?

This plant flowers freely throughout the season, with bloom quality often improving in late summer and fall after the intense heat subsides, displaying distinctive orange-red flowers with a black eye.

Conclusion

The vibrant Thunbergia alata ‘VOLTHU 1007’ SUNNY ARIZONA GLOW is unmatched for its speed in creating vertical interest and tropical color throughout the warm months. Its vigorous growth and deeply colored flowers ensure your garden or patio receives a reliable late-season performance display. Before planting, check your local frost dates to ensure you maximize the growing season for this spectacular Black-eyed Susan vine.

Propagation Tips

Growing the Black-eyed Susan vine from seed is straightforward and highly recommended, especially for annual displays. Seeds should be sown directly into the garden soil only after the danger of frost has completely passed and soil temperatures have sufficiently warmed. For bloom acceleration, start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks prior to your region’s average last frost date.

If you have a favorite plant you wish to save over winter, taking cuttings in late summer is an effective method. These cuttings can be rooted and grown indoors in a warm, sunny spot, allowing gardeners in cooler climates to preserve prized specimens of Thunbergia alata ‘VOLTHU 1007’ SUNNY ARIZONA GLOW until spring planting time returns.

Design Ideas

The height range of 5 to 8 feet makes Thunbergia alata perfect for screening applications or adding vertical drama to container groupings. Use it on temporary fencing or along patio walls where a rapid, dense screen is required against an unsightly view. For hanging baskets, use a sturdy structure, as the twining stems seek out and grab any available support, weaving themselves through the structure of the container itself.

When integrating this vine, contrast its bright, warm colors—the orange-red of the SUNNY ARIZONA GLOW cultivar—with cool colors or deep foliage plants. Consider pairing it with silver-leaved Dusty Miller or deep purple Calibrachoa. This juxtaposition makes the inherent luminosity of the Black-eyed Susan flowers pop, particularly in late afternoon sunlight.