Cup and Saucer Vine

Description:

The flowers have a unique shape that merits both the common names of Cup and Saucer Vine and Cathedral Bells. The purple flowers also have an unusual color palette that is unexpectedly muted, especially when you consider the size and shape of the flowers (up to 5cm (2in) in diameter). But this is a vigorous vine and hard to ignore in the landscape. With good growing conditions, vines can easily grow longer than 20 feet.

Habitat:

Cultivated in an urban park, Enköping, Sweden

Notes:

Flowers: The cup-shaped flowers are a pale green as they start to open, but quickly turn purple or white, as they fill out. The opening buds have a somewhat unpleasant scent, but the fully opened flowers develop a floral-honey fragrance. The green calyces remain at the base of the flower and become the saucer. Leaves: Bright green, oblong leaves - and plenty of them. This vine really needs full sun, to bloom well. You'll get a lot of vine growth, early in the season. Flowers don't usually come along until mid- to late summer, but they'll continue into the fall. It does not need a rich soil, although some organic matter will keep it growing and blooming without additional fertilizer. The vines grow too quickly and become very tangled. You can direct seed, after all danger of frost or get a head start by starting seeds indoors, 6 - 8 weeks before your last frost. Keep the vines watered regularly, but don't let the soil remain wet. Thank you Dan for the ID!