Dolichandra unguis-cati

RHS Plant Profile

cat's claw creeper

Other common names

anikab, bejuco edmurcielago, cat's claw, cat's paw creeper, mano de lagarija

Synonyms

Doxantha unguis-cati
Macfadyena unguis-cati
Bignonia tweedieana
Bignonia tweediana
Bignonia unguis-cati

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A vigorous, climbing vine bearing flared, trumpet-shaped yellow flowers. The showy blooms are particularly fragrant in the evening. Not hardy in the UK but in many tropical regions of the world it is listed as invasive

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

1.5-2.5 metres

Max Spread

1.5-2.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 2–5 years
Max Spread: 1.5-2.5 metres
Max Height: 1.5-2.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: South–facing or West–facing or East–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H3

Colour & Scent

Fragrance Flower

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Bignoniaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Semi evergreen
Habit: Climbing
Genus: A genus of climbing, flowering plants native to Latin America and the Caribbean, with trifid, claw-like tendrils (divided into three parts) and tubular-shaped yellow flowers. Dolichandra unguis-cati is vigorous and invasive and can smother and kill canopy trees
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: S America, Caribbean

How to Grow

Cultivation

Under glass grow in large pots of peat-free, loam-based compost. Outdoors select a sunny, sheltered site in moisture-retentive soil. Provide support for the twining tendrils

Propagation

Propagate by seed, softwood or semi-hardwood cuttings

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Climber and wall shrubs
Conservatory and greenhouse

Pruning

Pruning group 11

Pests

May be susceptible to mealybug, scale insect and aphids

Diseases

Generally disease-free