The Pandorea
genus is not endemic to just Australia but there are two
species (or three depending on one's source) that are
native to Australia.
Pandorea
jasminioides is commonly called Bower Vine or Bower
of Beauty. It is a vigorous twiner coming originally
from Queensland and New South Wales, but now a popular
garden plant in many areas. There is certainly nothing
very jasmine-like about the flowers which are largish
pale pink trumpets with deep maroon throats. The
foliage, however, is quite similar to many of the
jasmines with glossy pinnate leaves. There are a number
of cultivars including 'Southern Belle' (pink),
'Charisma' (pink flowers and variegated leaves) and
'Lady Di' (white flowers).
Bower Vine prefers a sunny, well-drained position,
though it will cope with some shade. It is happy in most
soils and is fairly tolerant of frost. It makes an
attractive evergreen cover for fence or trellis.
Pandorea pandorana is commonly called Wonga Wonga
Vine and is native to all states except South Australia
and the Northern Territory. It grows quickly if somewhat
messily - it need pruning to keep it neat. It has shiny
pinnate leaves and large clusters of narrow, creamy,
flared bells. Cultivars include 'Golden Showers'
(yellow-to-tan flowers), Lemon Bells (lemon flowers) and
Snow Bells (white).
Wonga Wonga Vine is a fast-growing plant, but it has an
unfortunate reputation for suddenly turning up its toes.
It grows in sun or semi-shade, is reasonably drought
tolerant, but sensitive to frost.
The other Pandorea is listed in different places as
Pandorea doratoxylon and Pandorea pandorana
var. doratoxylon. It is indigenous to Central
Australia. A tall scrambling bush to 3m with long
arching branches, it has pinnate leaves and profuse
displays of pale pink and dull maroon flowers. The plant
was highly prized by the aborigines who used the long
branches to make spears that they launched from
woomeras. Thus in the Northern Territory it has been
given the common name of Spearwood.
