About
A summer-dormant, tuberous, perennial climber to about 1.5m with small, light green, five- or seven-lobed leaves. Flowering takes place from winter to early summer. The small, yellow flowers are surrounded by a conspicuous purple-tipped, orange-red calyx with a long red or purple spur, in all about 3cm long.
About the genus
Tropaeolum can be annuals or perennials, bushy, trailing or climbing by twining stems, with simple or palmately lobed leaves and showy funnel-shaped flowers with five long-clawed petals and often a spur
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun
Soil typeLoam
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained
AspectWest-facing, South-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH2
Plant details
Plant typeClimber Wall Shrub, Conservatory Greenhouse, Herbaceous Perennial
HabitClimbing
FoliageDeciduous
Height1-1.5 metres
Spread0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height2-5 years
Suggested usesPatio and container plants
Native toChile
ToxicitySkin allergen. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling
Care notes
CultivationGrow under glass in good light with shade from hot sun. Plant tubers in a deep container of peat-free, loam-based compost with added fine grit, starting into growth in autumn
PruningNo pruning required - allow to die down naturally in midsummer
PropagationPropagate by separating tubers when dormant in summer
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to glasshouse whitefly and glasshouse red spider mite and whitefly
Disease resistanceGenerally disease-free