“Rose of Montana: A Memory and a Miracle”
By Adrienne Dunn
“A fond
memory of my childhood has always been playing behind the shadowy curtain
created by our Rose of Montana vine.
Every spring, my mother would put up a “string trellis” at the end of
our large front porch. By mid-summer,
the vine would find its way up the string, creating a beautiful, leafy display
with an abundance of tiny pink flowers.
As a child, I would spend hours at the end of the porch, hidden behind the vine, playing with my dolls. I would change their dresses, comb their hair and occasionally peek through the vine at the passersby. This was fun because I could see them, and I was always hidden, so it was my private game of hide-and-seek. In late fall, the leaves would start to turn brown and I knew it wouldn’t be long before my mother would have to cut the vine back. I would beg her not to cut it down, but of course, the dead vine had become somewhat of an eyesore, so down it would come. I would always feel sad when it was gone because my favorite secret hiding place was gone too!
Rose of Montana, or more accurately, Rosa de Montana, is a native of Mexico and has been grown in the southern part of the state for generations. Its botanical name is Antigonon leptopus. It is also known by other common names such as Coral vine, Confederate vine and Mexican creeper. It produces beautiful sprays of tiny pink flowers from summer through late fall. There is also a vine that produces white flowers called Antigonon leptopus ‘Alba’.
Rosa de Montana is a very carefree vine. It grows rapidly and is an excellent choice for arbors and fences. Container-grown vines should be planted in the spring. The vine grows best in full sun and will produce heavy flowering in a sunny location. It will grow in a shady spot but will not produce as many flowers. It should be watered frequently during its growing season,
and then kept moist when it is dormant. Planting the vine in a location with good drainage is best. It will grow to a length of 30 to 40 feet. The vine will grow well without fertilizer. However, if it is being grown for privacy, a diluted nitrogen fertilizer will increase the amount of foliage. It should be noted that fertilizer will reduce the flowering considerably. The vine will self-seed and produce seedlings which can be transplanted or shared with friends and family. After the first frost, it can be cut back and will grow back profusely in the spring. Pests are usually not a problem with Rosa de Montana.
My family and I moved away from the house with the Rose of Montana vine when I was 15. I had fond memories of the beautiful vine, but life went on with its many twists and turns. When my mother died of cancer in 2011, I started thinking back to my childhood and days gone by, remembering bits and pieces of life in the 1950’s. I started thinking about the Rose of Montana vine and decided I wanted to plant one at my new home in Springfield. I began searching and asking friends if they knew where I could fine one, but had no luck in finding one. Then the following year, after a long battle with cancer, my brother passed away. It was a terribly sad time and I spent a lot of time thinking about the past and our childhood in old Kenner.
During this sad time, Vicky Fannaly, a friend in the Gardenettes, sent over a thoughtful gift and note. When I opened it, there were two tiny plants: a Celosia and a Rose of Montana! I will never forget that flood of emotions. It was so overwhelming and wonderful at the same time. Vicky had no idea that I had been looking for a Rose of Montana, and I really believe that God used Vicky as his special angel that day to say, “I know what is in your heart, and life is truly everlasting. This Rose of Montana is being sent to you so you will always remember this.” I planted the Rose of Montana in my garden next to my special Angel Statue, and my husband built me a beautiful white trellis. As I look through my kitchen window, I can relive the special memories of the Rose of Montana vine and know in my heart that it was a special gift sent for a special reason when I needed it most.
Bibliography
Gill, Dan and White, Joe. Louisiana Gardener’s Guide – Revised Edition. Nashville TN: Cool Springs Press, 2002.
As a child, I would spend hours at the end of the porch, hidden behind the vine, playing with my dolls. I would change their dresses, comb their hair and occasionally peek through the vine at the passersby. This was fun because I could see them, and I was always hidden, so it was my private game of hide-and-seek. In late fall, the leaves would start to turn brown and I knew it wouldn’t be long before my mother would have to cut the vine back. I would beg her not to cut it down, but of course, the dead vine had become somewhat of an eyesore, so down it would come. I would always feel sad when it was gone because my favorite secret hiding place was gone too!
Rose of Montana, or more accurately, Rosa de Montana, is a native of Mexico and has been grown in the southern part of the state for generations. Its botanical name is Antigonon leptopus. It is also known by other common names such as Coral vine, Confederate vine and Mexican creeper. It produces beautiful sprays of tiny pink flowers from summer through late fall. There is also a vine that produces white flowers called Antigonon leptopus ‘Alba’.
Rosa de Montana is a very carefree vine. It grows rapidly and is an excellent choice for arbors and fences. Container-grown vines should be planted in the spring. The vine grows best in full sun and will produce heavy flowering in a sunny location. It will grow in a shady spot but will not produce as many flowers. It should be watered frequently during its growing season,
and then kept moist when it is dormant. Planting the vine in a location with good drainage is best. It will grow to a length of 30 to 40 feet. The vine will grow well without fertilizer. However, if it is being grown for privacy, a diluted nitrogen fertilizer will increase the amount of foliage. It should be noted that fertilizer will reduce the flowering considerably. The vine will self-seed and produce seedlings which can be transplanted or shared with friends and family. After the first frost, it can be cut back and will grow back profusely in the spring. Pests are usually not a problem with Rosa de Montana.
My family and I moved away from the house with the Rose of Montana vine when I was 15. I had fond memories of the beautiful vine, but life went on with its many twists and turns. When my mother died of cancer in 2011, I started thinking back to my childhood and days gone by, remembering bits and pieces of life in the 1950’s. I started thinking about the Rose of Montana vine and decided I wanted to plant one at my new home in Springfield. I began searching and asking friends if they knew where I could fine one, but had no luck in finding one. Then the following year, after a long battle with cancer, my brother passed away. It was a terribly sad time and I spent a lot of time thinking about the past and our childhood in old Kenner.
During this sad time, Vicky Fannaly, a friend in the Gardenettes, sent over a thoughtful gift and note. When I opened it, there were two tiny plants: a Celosia and a Rose of Montana! I will never forget that flood of emotions. It was so overwhelming and wonderful at the same time. Vicky had no idea that I had been looking for a Rose of Montana, and I really believe that God used Vicky as his special angel that day to say, “I know what is in your heart, and life is truly everlasting. This Rose of Montana is being sent to you so you will always remember this.” I planted the Rose of Montana in my garden next to my special Angel Statue, and my husband built me a beautiful white trellis. As I look through my kitchen window, I can relive the special memories of the Rose of Montana vine and know in my heart that it was a special gift sent for a special reason when I needed it most.
Bibliography
Gill, Dan and White, Joe. Louisiana Gardener’s Guide – Revised Edition. Nashville TN: Cool Springs Press, 2002.