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in the Gardeners' World Awards 2010 has highlighted their popularity.The category for 'Best Plant for Bedding' was won by pansy and viola with a very respectable 20 per cent of the vote. They beat summer favourites like pelargonium with 17 per cent of votes

more (that's a topic for another day).So, what are the alternatives? There are quite a few annual climbers to choose from actually. Morning glory (ipomoea) is popular, but their flowers are all too short-lived. The purple bell vine (rhodochiton) is nice

Last summer I discovered a twining, tender climber called Lophospermum, or lofos. I bought two varieties, 'Burgundy Falls' and 'Summer Cream' (both pictured left), as plug plants from a mail-order seed company. I grew my lofos under cover, in 7.5-10