About
A 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.
About the genus
Rhodochiton are deciduous perennial climbers with twining stems bearing simple, heart-shaped leaves, and solitary, pendent, tubular flowers with large calyces
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun
Soil typeChalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained
AspectSouth-facing, West-facing, East-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH2
Plant details
Plant typeClimber Wall Shrub, Conservatory Greenhouse
HabitClimbing
FoliageDeciduous
Height1.5-2.5 metres
Spread0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height1-2 years
Suggested usesCity and courtyard gardens, Patio and container plants
Native toMexico
Care notes
CultivationGrow 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
PruningPlants grown under glass may need restrictive pruning in late winter
PropagationPropagate by seed sown at 15-18°C when ripe or in spring
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to glasshouse whitefly and glasshouse red spider mite
Disease resistanceGenerally disease-free