Rhodochiton atrosanguineus

RHS Plant Profile

purple bell vine

Other common names

purple bellerine, purple bells

Synonyms

Rhodochiton atrosanguineus 'Purple Bells'
Rhodochiton volubilis
Rhodochiton atrosanguineum
Lophospermum atrosanguineum

Climber Wall Shrub Conservatory Greenhouse

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An herbaceous climber to 3m in height, bearing heart-shaped leaves with twining leaf-stalks; pendulous tubular deep maroon flowers 4cm in length have large, bowl-shaped rose-red calyces

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

1.5-2.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 1–2 years
Max Spread: 0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height: 1.5-2.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun

Aspect: South–facing or West–facing or East–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H2

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Plantaginaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Climbing
Genus: Rhodochiton are deciduous perennial climbers with twining stems bearing simple, heart-shaped leaves, and solitary, pendent, tubular flowers with large calyces
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: Mexico

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow under glass in a peat-free, loam-based compost in full light with protection from hot sun. During growth water freely and apply a balanced liquid fertiliser monthly but keep just moist in winter. Pot on in spring. Can be grown outdoors in fertile, humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil in a frost-free area. In frost prone areas can be grown outdoors as an annual

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown at 15-18°C when ripe or in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Patio and container plants
Wall side borders

Pruning

Plants grown under glass may need restrictive pruning in late winter

Pests

May be susceptible to glasshouse whitefly and glasshouse red spider mite

Diseases

Generally disease-free