Cochliasanthus caracalla (Snail vine}

Joyce Goldenlily

Last year I germinated some seeds purchased at Heligan. Described as a tender climber with fragrant flowers. They grew into rampant vines, in a very large ceramic container, in my conservatory. The flowers were a talking point for everyone who saw them and the perfume was wonderful. I wasn't sure if they would survive our winter but they have. There has been a lot of die back but new shots have now appeared. I have had to give the stems a clean as there were a lot of scale insects on them, hopefully it will grow on, as long as we do not have a late, big freeze. I saved seed from it, some I have given to friends to try and I am going to see if mine germinate as I am not sure if it is self fertile.
Isn't gardening exciting

Dovefromabove

Did you take any photos?

Joyce Goldenlily

No, but if you type the name into Google it will bring up pics and plenty of cultivation, origins etc. info. Mine has lavender and white flowers. I would imagine in their native habitat they would be thought of as a pernicious weed. The shoots I spotted a couple of days ago are already double the length. I pinched out the growing tips on mine last year at about 7/8ft, on a metal frame I made up, but left a couple of stems to romp up into roof of the conservatory, in case it didn't like being cut back.
When I repotted it into the large container I was expecting a ball of fibrous roots but the root system looks just like a clump of dahlia tubers which would explain why it is frost tender. We have had a very mild winter temp. wise so haven't had a problem with it. I have kept the soil in the pot damp, giving it a good soak every 3/4 weeks then letting it dry out which seems to work.It can be evergreen or deciduous, depending on climate so if you have a large heated greenhouse/conservatory where you could let it do its own thing it would be quite happy. Mine dropped its leaves and began dying back a bit, mainly to the tougher woody stems which keeps  its size down for me.

Dovefromabove

Yes all the pics online look gorgeous.  Shame we don’t have a place for one.