Cobaea Scandens

I have found most gardeners are willing to share their experiences and seeds and cuttings with like-minded people.


This year, I was given two small seedlings in May of a plant I had never grown before, namely Cobaea scandens. One was labelled pink the other blue.


As this plant comes from Mexico (it is a tender perennial climber), it will probably not survive the winter without protection.


They are only now showing some flowers. One has pale green foliage and is growing through a large silver box Buxus argentea. The flower which is like a cup and saucer (cobea is also called the cup-and-saucer plant), is beautiful - translucent cream and green. The other plant is planted at the base of a wall covered with the golden ivy 'Buttercup' and has dark purple foliage. It is only in bud but I imagine the flower will be purple. The white one Cobaea scandens alba is quite rare so I am hoping to get some viable seed.


They are probably blooming so late because of a lack of sunlight and were sown too late. They are well worth growing.