«White» - Organic Cobaea Seeds
1.14 €
There is a seemingly unsolvable conundrum for the many gardeners among us who would like vertical interest and colour in summer without having to wait a year or two for shrubs or perennial climbers to develop sufficiently to flower well.
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Organic Cobaea «White»
There is a seemingly unsolvable conundrum for the many gardeners among us who would like vertical interest and colour in summer without having to wait a year or two for shrubs or perennial climbers to develop sufficiently to flower well.
The simple answer is to sow the seed of annual climbers, which have the capacity to germinate, grow stupendously, flower generously and set seed within a few short months. They can be so imposing that they often transform the look of a garden - all for surprisingly little bother.
Annual climbers are, in fact, often perennials that are too tender to survive frost in winter; a favourite of many gardeners is the beautiful and fast-growing Cobaea scandens.
Cobaea scandens is an impressive climber and is one of the fastest-growing and most trouble-free vines you will ever grow. In its native Mexico it makes a woody, evergreen perennial. Here it grows 10ft or so over the summer and, from summer until the first frosts, produces very large and distinctive flowers. Alba is the more rare white flowering form, the flowers are greenish on opening, later turning into a creamy white.
The bell-shaped flowers are up to 5cm (2in) in diameter and have a ruff of bracts - hence its common names, cup and saucer plant or cathedral bells. The flowers are on longish stalks that hold them out in front of the leaves.
It will behave as a perennial if kept indoors in winter at about 7°C (45°F). In a very mild winter plants may survive and remain virtually evergreen,
Cobaea scandens alba will appeal to anyone who longs for something with panache and visual impact. It is extremely attractive when scrambling upward through trellis work, archways, over small buildings or old trees. It will also solve the problem, temporarily at least, of what to do with that bare wall and will fill the air with a very pleasant honey scent throughout the growing season.