Purple Bell Vine

Masses of flowers for months and months on a fast and elegant climber. They are long blooming through summer to autumn and sure to be a talking point in the garden. You can even pick the stems for cut flower arrangements.

The pretty pink bell shaped calyx sits over the deep purple, almost black tubular corolla that grows to around 4cm. This part elongates after the calyces (rosy pink bits) open, and falls once it has been pollinated. The calyces remain and mature to green and red and handsome until the end. The toothed, heart shaped leaves can have a purple blush on their border.

The narrow stems twine and cling with small tendrils and can attach to an obelisk, trellis, shrub or support alternately they will trail charmingly from hanging baskets.

Rhodochiton atrosanguineus holds the RHS Award or Garden Merit, so you know it will be both simple to grow and garden worthy.

Plant in a humus rich, moist, well drained soil in a morning sun to part shade location with protection from the hot afternoon sun. They are suitable for pots which will need to be a good size and accommodate an obelisk or similar for them to grow up. It will settle in quickly and grow up to 3m in a season. They are half hardy, to 0C, so may need to be treated as annuals in some climates. The seed can be collected for sowing. Seed is produced in white capsules in the calyx in autumn. Winter dormant. In frost prone areas, wait until the threat of frost has past before planting out.

Hailing from the woodlands of Mexico, Purple Bell Vine has been under cultivation since 1836. And remains popular around the world.

Supplied as: Pots
Size: 10cm