Black-Eyed Susan Vine vs Lupine

Side-by-side plant comparison — which is right for your garden?

Black-Eyed Susan Vine

Thunbergia alata

Acanthaceae · vines

Deer ResistantLow Maintenance

Lupine

Lupinus polyphyllus

Fabaceae · flowers

Deer ResistantMedium Maintenance

Hardiness Zone Range

Black-Eyed Susan Vine (Zones 10-11)

Lupine (Zones 4-7)

No zone overlap — these plants cannot be grown in the same climate

Detailed Comparison

Feature	Black-Eyed Susan Vine	Lupine
Scientific Name	Thunbergia alata	Lupinus polyphyllus
Family	Acanthaceae	Fabaceae
Category	vines	flowers
Sun	☀️ Full Sun	☀️ Full Sun
Water	💧💧 Medium	💧💧 Medium
Soil	Well-drained	Well-drained, Slightly Acidic
Height	8'	4'
Spread	2'	2'
Bloom Season	Summer-Fall	Late Spring-Summer
Bloom Color	Orange, Yellow, White	Blue, Purple, Pink, Yellow
Growth Rate	Fast	Medium
Native Region	East Africa	North America
Maintenance	Low	Medium

Special Traits

Black-Eyed Susan Vine

No — EdibleYes — Deer ResistantNo — Drought Tolerant

Lupine

No — EdibleYes — Deer ResistantNo — Drought Tolerant

Care Tips

Black-Eyed Susan Vine

✓Treat as annual in most zones.
✓Provide trellis or let trail from basket.
✓Deadhead for continuous bloom.
✓Start indoors 6 weeks before last frost.

Lupine

✓Don't transplant — deep taproot.
✓Direct sow or plant young.
✓Nick seed coat before planting.
✓Nitrogen-fixing — don't fertilize.
✓Cool summers preferred.

Which Plant Is Right for Your Garden?

Choose Black-Eyed Susan Vine if you want a low-maintenance plant, and want deer resistance. It thrives in full sun with medium water in zones 10–11.

Choose Lupine if you don't mind medium maintenance, and want deer resistance. It thrives in full sun with medium water in zones 4–7.

View Black-Eyed Susan VineProfile →View LupineProfile →

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Black-Eyed Susan Vine and Lupine grow in the same hardiness zone?

Black-Eyed Susan Vine grows in USDA zones 10-11, while Lupine grows in zones 4-7. These plants have no overlapping hardiness zones, so they cannot be grown together in the same climate.

Do Black-Eyed Susan Vine and Lupine have the same sun and water needs?

Black-Eyed Susan Vine needs full sun and medium water, while Lupine needs full sun and medium water. They share similar growing requirements and can be planted in the same bed.

Which grows taller, Black-Eyed Susan Vine or Lupine?

Black-Eyed Susan Vine grows taller at 8' compared to Lupine at 4'. Black-Eyed Susan Vine spreads 2' while Lupine spreads 2'.

Are Black-Eyed Susan Vine and Lupine deer resistant?

Yes, both Black-Eyed Susan Vine and Lupine are considered deer resistant, making them excellent choices for gardens in areas with deer pressure.

Which is easier to maintain, Black-Eyed Susan Vine or Lupine?

Black-Eyed Susan Vine has low maintenance while Lupine has medium maintenance. Black-Eyed Susan Vine may be easier for beginning gardeners to manage.

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Detailed Comparison

Feature	Black-Eyed Susan Vine	Lupine
Scientific Name	Thunbergia alata	Lupinus polyphyllus
Family	Acanthaceae	Fabaceae
Category	vines	flowers
Sun	☀️ Full Sun	☀️ Full Sun
Water	💧💧 Medium	💧💧 Medium
Soil	Well-drained	Well-drained, Slightly Acidic
Height	8'	4'
Spread	2'	2'
Bloom Season	Summer-Fall	Late Spring-Summer
Bloom Color	Orange, Yellow, White	Blue, Purple, Pink, Yellow
Growth Rate	Fast	Medium
Native Region	East Africa	North America
Maintenance	Low	Medium

Care Tips

Black-Eyed Susan Vine

✓Treat as annual in most zones.
✓Provide trellis or let trail from basket.
✓Deadhead for continuous bloom.
✓Start indoors 6 weeks before last frost.

Lupine

✓Don't transplant — deep taproot.
✓Direct sow or plant young.
✓Nick seed coat before planting.
✓Nitrogen-fixing — don't fertilize.
✓Cool summers preferred.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Black-Eyed Susan Vine and Lupine grow in the same hardiness zone?

Black-Eyed Susan Vine grows in USDA zones 10-11, while Lupine grows in zones 4-7. These plants have no overlapping hardiness zones, so they cannot be grown together in the same climate.

Do Black-Eyed Susan Vine and Lupine have the same sun and water needs?

Black-Eyed Susan Vine needs full sun and medium water, while Lupine needs full sun and medium water. They share similar growing requirements and can be planted in the same bed.

Which grows taller, Black-Eyed Susan Vine or Lupine?

Black-Eyed Susan Vine grows taller at 8' compared to Lupine at 4'. Black-Eyed Susan Vine spreads 2' while Lupine spreads 2'.

Are Black-Eyed Susan Vine and Lupine deer resistant?

Yes, both Black-Eyed Susan Vine and Lupine are considered deer resistant, making them excellent choices for gardens in areas with deer pressure.

Which is easier to maintain, Black-Eyed Susan Vine or Lupine?

Black-Eyed Susan Vine has low maintenance while Lupine has medium maintenance. Black-Eyed Susan Vine may be easier for beginning gardeners to manage.