Chocolate Vine Oro White 'Silver Bells'

'Silver Bells' is an elegant cultivar of the Chocolate Vine, prized for its bicoloured floral display. In spring, it produces clusters of fragrant, pale-pinkish-white and purple flowers that hang delicately from the stems. The scent is often described as spicy with a hint of vanilla or chocolate. The foliage is semi-evergreen in the UK, consisting of five-lobed, bright green leaves that remain attractive throughout the year in milder winters. It is a vigorous twining climber that requires a trellis or wires to ascend. While it is hardy, the early spring blossoms can be damaged by late frosts, so a sheltered position is beneficial. In very warm summers, it may produce unusual, sausage-shaped violet fruits that are edible but rarely ripen fully in the UK climate. It is a great choice for a pergola or over a doorway where the fragrance and unusual flowers can be seen up close. Prune after flowering to maintain size and remove old, tangled growth. It provides a more refined look than the standard species.

Sun: Full sun to partial shade.

Soil: Moist, well-drained loam.

Hardiness: H6 — down to −20°C.

Flowering: Apr, May.