Native & adapted

Yellow orchid vine

Callaeum macropterum

Native Baja and Sonoran-region vine with bright yellow flowers; give it a trellis and reflected warmth.

Sonoran nativePollinatorLow waterWarm climate

Landscape layersClimbing

Mature size

8–12 ft tall on support × 10–15 ft of spread

Climate fit

Urban core · USDA 9b–10a · Valley suburbs · USDA 9a–9b · Desert outskirts · USDA 8b–9b

Special categories

SONORAN DESERT NATIVE · POLLINATOR ATTRACTING

Hardiness guidance

USDA zones 9b–11; may lose foliage or die back after frost

Before you plant

These conditions determine whether it will thrive.

Cold hardiness

Cover while young

Top growth is hardy to about 25°F and roots to about 15°F, so even if it freezes to the ground it comes back fast. Cover young vines in a hard freeze; a hard freeze on older vines only costs you the spring bloom.

Leaves and wood: damaged below 25°F

Heat tolerance

Takes full sun and heat

Grows in full sun, including hot fences and west walls, and tolerates light shade. It drops leaves in long dry spells, so water weekly in the hottest months.

Sources:

desertmuseum.org , amwua.org

Right plant, right place

Will Yellow orchid vine grow at your Arizona property?

Provide a trellis or fence and guide young stems. The plant is vigorous but is not usually an invasive runner in low-desert landscapes.

Best regional fit: Urban core · USDA 9b–10a, Valley suburbs · USDA 9a–9b, Desert outskirts · USDA 8b–9b.

Light

Sun exposure

Full sun to light shade; flowering is strongest with abundant sun.

Water

Irrigation

Low once established. Deep irrigation every 10–14 days during summer keeps growth and flowering active.

Choose the actual plant, not only the label

Cultivars & selections

Named cultivars are uncommon. Confirm the botanical name Callaeum macropterum; several unrelated yellow-flowering vines share similar common names.

Species form

Callaeum macropterum

Mature size8–12 ft tall × 10–15 ft spread

Best forNative-region trellises, fences, and pollinator cover

Select a healthy, well-branched nursery plant and provide support early; provenance is more meaningful than a cultivar name.

Planting & stewardship

How to help Yellow orchid vine thrive

1
Confirm the plant’s mature spread and underground conflicts before digging.
2
Place the root flare at finished grade and keep mulch away from the trunk.
3
Establish a wide, deep root zone instead of irrigating only at the trunk.
4
Observe seasonal growth, heat stress, and wildlife use before making major pruning changes.

Read the horticultural reference ↗