Three-coloured Indian Cress

An exquisite and rare tuberous perennial climber from Chile that is a gem for the specialist UK gardener. Tropaeolum tricolor produces delicate, wire-like stems that can grow up to 2 metres, covered in tiny, five-lobed leaves. The flowers are small but stunning, shaped like long-necked jugs and coloured in brilliant scarlet, tipped with purple-blue and yellow. Unlike many plants, it is winter-growing and summer-dormant, making it perfect for a cool greenhouse or a very sheltered, frost-free spot in a southern UK garden. It typically starts into growth in autumn and flowers in late winter or early spring. The tubers should be planted deeply and kept entirely dry during their summer dormancy. Providing a fine mesh or twiggy sticks for it to climb through will show off its intricate flowers to best effect. It is a plant of great elegance and unusual timing, providing colour when much of the garden is asleep.

Sun: Full sun to partial shade.

Soil: Very well-drained, sandy loam.

Hardiness: H3 — down to −5°C.

Flowering: Feb, Mar, Apr, May.