Cobaea scandens f. alba
Cup and saucer vine, Mexican ivy, Monastry bells, Climbing cathedral bells
- Height × spread
- 4.6m × 4.6m
- Position
- Full sun
- Hardiness
- Frost free greenhouse 1C & above (RHS H2)
- Flowers
- Summer, Autumn
Availability
Please ask in store about availability
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
A tender, fragrant climber, this has stunning flowers, shaped like large, deep bells and coloured white with some light green suffusion. They are fat, opulent, and seem improbable. The vine itself is rampant with lush large leaves and long slender tendrils. The flowers' fragrance changes as it matures, starting off musky and becoming sweeter with age. It blooms for a long season and can be grown in the garden as a half-hardy annual.
- Flower colour
- White
- Foliage colour
- Green
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- Yes, honey-almond
- Shape
- Fan
- Height
- 4.6m
- Spread
- 4.6m
- Season of interest
- Summer, Autumn
- Flowers in
- Summer, Autumn
- Evergreen
- Evergreen
- Garden style
- Scented garden, Exotic garden, Conservatory
- Sun or shade
- Likes full sun
- Soil type
- Chalk, Clay, Gravelly soil, Loam (normal), Sandy soil
- Soil pH
- All types
- Drainage
- Moisture retentive soil, Well drained soil
- Hardiness
- Frost free greenhouse 1C & above (RHS H2)
- Borders & containers
- Borders and containers
- Use for
- Wall cover
- Walls
- South, West facing
- Hazards
- No
Spring
Spring-Autumn · Outdoors
Water regularly during growth
Water regularly while in growth.
Adopt a regime that means the plants are thoroughly watered every week so that they do not become dessicated. In hot weather watering may need to be more frequent, but less often in cool or moist conditions.
Spring · Planting
Repot every other year
Repot every other year if grown in a container. Move it to a slightly larger pot with drainage holes in the bottom. Some of the old compost can be shaken away, but don't disturb the roots too much.
Make sure the roots are spread out and that the plant is sitting on compost and not an air pocket. Firm the soil gently, and ensure that the plant sits at the same level above the soil as it did previously.
Spring - early · Planting
Prune to maintain the plant
Cut back hard when the plant is established. The plant can be reduced by around two thirds its original height.
Spring-Autumn · Planting
Pinch out growing tips
On young plants pinch out foliage tips to encourage a pleasant and bushy growth habit.
Winter
Winter · Outdoors
Water sparingly during dormancy
In its dormant period give very little water, keeping the soil barely moist. Dormancy is likely to be during the winter and the plant recommences growth in early to mid spring.
When a plant enters dormancy the leaves fade, go yellow and then brown. Eventually the whole plant may 'disappear' or unadorned stems may remain.
Planting & general
Compost · Outdoors
Houseplant compost for repotting
Repot using any good quality house plant compost.