Petrea VOLUBILIS

Petrea VOLUBILIS - Purple Wreath, Queen's Wreath, Sandpaper Vine, Petrea volubilis.

Petrea is a genus of exotic dicotyledonous flowering plants in the Vervain family (Verbenaceae). Its native range includes Mexico and Brazil. In the wild, members of the genus occur in tropical moist forests and forest belts.

These exotic plants resemble lianas and climbing shrubs. The foliage is arranged oppositely or spirally. The leaf surface is leathery, rough, and deep green.

The flowers are borne in raceme inflorescences. They are situated at branch tips, less frequently in leaf axils. Bracts are small or absent entirely. The calyx is prominent, larger than the corolla, and can be blue, lilac, or gray. The berry-like fruit contains 2 seeds, occasionally underdeveloped with 1 seed.

Purple wreath is a fast-growing evergreen woody liana reaching up to 10 m (33 ft) in length. Dense, leathery, elliptic bright-green leaves grow up to 10-20 cm (3.9-7.9 in). They are covered with fine trichomes over the entire surface. The crown reaches a diameter of 30 cm (11.8 in).

Blue-violet flowers are gathered in long drooping racemes. They bloom intermittently from late winter to early September. First, large star-shaped blue sepals with 5 lobes open. Later, the flower itself opens slightly smaller in size. It has a more intense rich violet or violet-blue coloration. The petals drop after a few days, but the bright sepals remain on the vine for a long time until seeds are fully ripe. Gradually, they fade and fall.

Seeds are sown on the surface into a loose substrate of peat and sand and lightly dusted on top with a thin layer of sand, moistened from a spray bottle, covered with film, and germinated in the light but not in direct sun at a temperature of 25-28 °C (77-82 °F). Seedlings require ventilation. Waterlogging and desiccation of sowings must be avoided. The use of bottom watering is acceptable.

Pricking out of seedlings is carried out 2-3 weeks after emergence. Pots are placed in a well-sunlit location, and the soil is regularly moistened.

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It is preferable to plant Purple Wreath in a sunlit spot, although partial shade is also acceptable. The exotic plant is quite warmth-loving and should be cultivated at temperatures not lower than 15 °C (59 °F). Mature vines can withstand brief cold snaps down to -1 °C (30 °F).

Petrea requires regular watering. Moisture must be applied 2-3 times a week. It is desirable to use settled water. During hot seasons, the plant is sprayed from a spray bottle once a week.

This exotic vine prefers loose, well-drained soil with mild acidity. There is no need for frequent repotting. From March to October, the plant needs fertilizing with specialized formulas for flowering plants rich in phosphorus. In winter, the crop can be fed with a weak nutrient fertilizer.