Asarina scandens
This is a very active climber, but small, only growing about 1 m high. However, it produces multiple branches to form a dense mat and although the flowers are only about 3 cm long, it will be covered in flowers for months. Good for covering unsightly features.
It will stop flowering in the hot season, by which time it is covered in open seed pods. If you hold an open newspaper underneath and shake the plant vigorously, you will get huge numbers of seeds for the next year!
For years, I have grown this as an annual, but the seeds will only germinate when the weather is cooler (e.g. November) and so will only start flowering in January. In addition, the seedlings are a bit difficult to handle (thin and straggly), so expect some mortality. Recently, I have kept the plants going during the summer (although still do not flower) by growing in the full sun, but covering their pots with surrounding vegetation. This helps to keep the soil moist in the summer. In this situation, it restart flowering by the end of October.
Note that although the plant is quite small, it has deep roots and prefers a pot that is at least 20 cm deep. It will survive and flower in a smaller pot, but the plant will be pathetic. A happy plant should cover at least a square metre.
Asarina is vulnerable to mealybug and you need to particularly keep an eye on the seedlings.
There is a white variety (actually very pale purple).
It will stop flowering in the hot season, by which time it is covered in open seed pods. If you hold an open newspaper underneath and shake the plant vigorously, you will get huge numbers of seeds for the next year!
For years, I have grown this as an annual, but the seeds will only germinate when the weather is cooler (e.g. November) and so will only start flowering in January. In addition, the seedlings are a bit difficult to handle (thin and straggly), so expect some mortality. Recently, I have kept the plants going during the summer (although still do not flower) by growing in the full sun, but covering their pots with surrounding vegetation. This helps to keep the soil moist in the summer. In this situation, it restart flowering by the end of October.
Note that although the plant is quite small, it has deep roots and prefers a pot that is at least 20 cm deep. It will survive and flower in a smaller pot, but the plant will be pathetic. A happy plant should cover at least a square metre.
Asarina is vulnerable to mealybug and you need to particularly keep an eye on the seedlings.
There is a white variety (actually very pale purple).