You can prune them lightly all year long to keep them in shape, but if you want to do heavy pruning, wait until February.

I never do heavy pruning of anything until February, because by then, they're fully dormant, and the weather is starting to warm, so not much chance of a cold snap killing any new growth.

Hmm, maybe we are talking about a different plant? My Queen's Wreath/Sandpaper Vine (Petrea volubilis) is in full bloom in February and does not go dormant-it is a winter bloomer.

I was unable to find info on EDIS about it. They seemed to confuse it with a Coral vine?

I'd like to know if it blooms on old growth or new. It has so many wild tendrils now that it badly needs a pruning, but I don't want to hurt this winter flush of flowers.

Lisa

Mine(well, I should say my neighbor's) blooms in February as well. I've never pruned it _ where it comes over the fence, it isn't terribly aggressive. But I think their yard men prune it all the time, when the smallest tendril gets out of bounds. And they told me they've never seen a flower.

That may be because, on my side of the hedge, it can drape over to the point that it's shaded from scorching afternoon sun. That's what I've always assumed. But it might be because their yard men are pruning the flowers off.

I'd be careful. Can you give it a year to see what happens?

Susannah

Lisa, I've wondered that myself. I prune mine the most soon after it blooms, if I remember! However, I was told to pinch back the long 'tendrils' as they form, and that that would promote more blooms? Don't know. Mine is getting lots of those tendrils now and I was planning on nipping them. Maybe that's wrong? Someone here's gotta know.

Anna

Hi
Interesting, the one I've had since the early eighties always has the biggest flush of flowers in April, Just finished the Oct flowering Tends to flower year around but only in small amounts except for Oct
and the big one in April.. I have another that I got in mid nineties that follows the same pattern??
I 've always known it as Petrea volubilis,sandpaper vine.
I've only had to prune just the tendrils as it maintains at 8 x 15 feet . I don't ever remember requiring a severe pruning. It is runaway my favorite vine for this reason. Maybe I have an oddball?? lol gary