Cup and Saucer Vine / Cathedral Bells 'null,description:'

Cobaea scandens is one of the fastest-growing and most impressive climbing annuals available for UK gardens. Originally from Mexico, it can reach heights of 3-4 metres in a single season, quickly covering a fence, trellis, or pergola with its lush green foliage. The common name comes from the large, bell-shaped flowers which sit upon a leaf-like calyx (the "saucer"). The blooms emerge a pale creamy-green and gradually mature to a deep, velvety purple, emitting an unusual, musky scent. In the UK, it is usually grown as a half-hardy annual. Seeds should be sown early in the spring indoors, ideally on their edges to prevent rotting. Because it needs a long growing season to flower, an early start and a warm, sunny, sheltered position are essential. It is a fantastic plant for adding height and a sense of the exotic to a British garden. In very mild coastal areas, it can sometimes survive the winter, but it is generally treated as a summer spectacular.

Sun: Full sun.

Soil: Moist but well-drained, fertile soil.

Hardiness: H2 — down to 1°C.

Flowering: Aug, Sep, Oct.