Jade vine

The jade vine is a woody climbing plant that can grow up to 20 metres in length. It is found growing along tree trunks or branches in search of sunlight. Its leaves consist of three oblong leaflets and are usually golden bronze in colour, turning dark green on the twining stems. In spring, flowers grouped in hanging clusters, also known as pseudoracemes, appear. Each cluster is made up of 75 or more flowers and can reach up to 3 metres in length. Each flower has a turquoise-blue or jade-blue beak-shaped shape. This vine grows in humid environments with temperatures above 15°C.

Anecdote
In the tropical forests of the Philippines, this plant, called ‘tabayak’, is threatened with extinction due to deforestation. Its flowers are pollinated by a species of bat that hangs upside down to drink the nectar. These mammals are attracted by the unusual colour of the flowers, which stands out in the moonlight. In the absence of this particular pollinator in our regions, the jade vine must be fertilised manually. They are grown as ornamental plants. In Hawaii, they are woven into crowns to create festive decorations.

Scientific name: Strongylodon macrobotrys