Growing Cup-and-Saucer Vine: Tips at a Glance
Cup-and-saucer vince (Cobaea scandens) is a perennial climbing vine with purple flowers shaped like tea cups (which "sit" in more petals shaped like saucers). It likes warm weather and in climates colder than USDA growing zone 9 can be grown as an annual.
- Type Flowering vine
- Lifespan Perennial
- USDA Zones 9 to 11
- Light Full sun
- Water Well-drained soil
- When to Plant Start seeds in spring
- Design Tip Cloak a wall
- Companions Liriope, Miscanthus
- Peak Season Summer
Cup-and-Saucer Vine: A Field Guide
A fast-growing flowering vine with cup-shaped purple (or sometimes white) flower, cup-and-saucer vine will quickly camouflage a fence or trellis and also can be trained as a hedge.
Cobaea scandens hails from warm climated (it’s at home in Mexico and Venezuela) and should be grown as an annual in regions colder than USDA growing zone 9.
With its speedy growth rate and cloaking tendencies, cup-and-saucer brings to mind another purple climber, morning glory, but C. scandens has longer-lasting flowers and stems that with beautiful draping effect, making it a favorite for floral arrangements as well.
Before planting, make sure cup-and-saucer is not considered an invasive weed in your region. Another alternative climber to consider is Passionflower. And if it’s an elegant perennial vine you’re looking for, well-behaved Clematis will tolerate colder winters.
(Visited 2,726 times, 2 visits today)
