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Cobaea scandens, the Cathedral Bells or Cup and Saucer
Vine, is a perennial vine from Central and South America.
It's completely carefree, and will grow 15-25 feet in one
season. It's a showy climber for the cool greenhouse, and
also forming a very decorative screen on trellis or south
facing wall in milder areas.
The vine can reach 20 feet in length or higher and
produces numerous large flowers, often 6 cm (2½ in)
across. Beautiful climber with truly bell-like deep
velvet-blue flowers. The unusual buds open creamy green
then change to rosy-violet and finally mature to a deep
purple, from late Summer to early-mid Fall. A profuse
bloomer. The fruit capsule is 5.5 to 8.5 cm long, with
broad seeds 10-15 mm long including the wing.
Cobaea scandens is a fast-growing, evergreen perennial
climber with tendrils on its leaves. The leaf of Cobaea
is compound and consists of leaflets, stipules, and
tendrils. Each leaflet is oval, 4-12 cm long by 2-5 cm
wide, dark green above, whitish underneath, with a brown
stalk. The vines have many tendrils and cling well to
rough surfaces.
Hardiness zones 9-11, (-5°C/25°F, 4°C/40°F) in Winter.
Annual elsewhere. Provide a sunny growing area with a
light, rich soil. Water regularly; do not overwater the
soil should be moist to wet.
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