Rough Eccremocarpus

Family Bignoniaceae. In its native Chile this is a perennial that forms a fairly large tuber in the soil. During the dry season the above-ground parts die back and, with the return of rains, regrow from buds on the tuber.

In warm countries the tubers can be left in the ground if first protected from frost. In temperate climates Eccremocarpus is cultivated as an annual.

Most ornamental species: a fast-growing climber up to 3 m high, usually grown as an annual in central Russia because of its attractive flowers. The narrow tubular flowers — yellow, red, bright orange — almost closed at the throat, are magnificent. They grow in racemes up to 15 cm long opposite the "airy" foliage. Their pinnate leaves consist of three to seven pointed leaflets.

Flowering time: from July until late autumn. With numerous clusters of tiny tendrils Eccremocarpus clings to any support, climbing in one season to heights of up to 5 m. Small spear-shaped green fruits, appearing in August, resemble small peppers in shape. Introduced into cultivation in 1824.

The garden form Tresco Gold has golden-yellow corollas, Tresco Rose is cherry-pink with an orange throat, and Tresco Scarlet has orange and vermilion-red flowers with an ochre-yellow throat.

Location: sunny, with loose and fertile garden soil.

Care: plants are tied and trained. Good soil moisture is required during growth; weekly feeding until August.

Pests, diseases: aphids. It is best to place Eccremocarpus in a large container. In that case it must be regularly fertilized to provide sufficient nutrients for rapid growth and abundant flowering.

Propagation: by seeds. If the seeds have not ripened, the fruits are hung indoors and after four to five weeks good viable seeds are obtained. They are sown in loose fertile soil in May or grown as transplants after sowing in peat-compost pots in February–March. Eccremocarpus seeds are small, so they are lightly covered with soil, watered through a sieve and covered with glass. Seeds germinate in 12–15 days. In late May the plants are planted out into the open ground at 30 cm spacing. If necessary, Eccremocarpus can be propagated by root cuttings. The plant is also grown as a biennial; in that case seeds are sown in July–August or even September in boxes in a cold greenhouse.

Uses: screening warm south-facing walls, canopies, sheds. The vine is decorative all summer with its lacy dark-green foliage, and the brightly colored, splash-like tubular flowers are not afraid even of the first autumn frosts.