SPECIES: Apocynaceae, Dogbane family

DESCRIPTION: Twining, tropical woody vine, growing to 20 feet. Features milky sap and large, showy flowers.

VARIETIES: Alice du Pont, flowers pink, flared trumpet-like spring through fall. Plant in tubs or hanging baskets; pinch off tips of new stems to enourage dense growth. Summer Snow, pure-white blossoms in summer, tinged with a pinkish blush in cooler weather, large glossy green leaves; needs full sun with shaded roots; new from Monrovia Growers. Tropical Dreams, clusters of 3-inch bright yellow trumpet-shaped flowers and variegated leaves; for local retailers, call Barton Nursery, wholesalers in Gloucester, (804) 693-0031.

CULTURE: Rich soil, full sun or afternoon shade and lots of water during growth. Feed often or use time-release food in soil.

USES: Baskets, containers, trellises.

WINTER: To overwinter indoors, stop feeding, cut back and put in sunny window. To actively grow as houseplant, needs warm temperatures of 60 degrees Fahrenheit and humid air; mist or set pot in a saucer filled with gravel and water. Some people put container plant in unheated garage that won't freeze and let plant go dormant over winter; feed and put outdoors when danger of frost is past.

PRUNING: Once plant stops flowering, prune; flowers form on new growth.