- Botanical name: Cobaea scandens
- Common name: Cathedral bells
- Family: Cobaeaceae
- Plant Type: Climber
Purple
Green
- Key features:
- Flowers
Sometimes called cathedral bells, Cobaea scandens is a vigorous and irrepressible vine native to tropical America, where it grows as a strong woody perennial. It may be grown in large pots for standing outdoors in summer, and will behave as a perennial if kept indoors in winter at about 7C. In a very mild winter plants may survive and remain virtually evergreen, but they are usually grown as annuals on a wall, fence or pergola. Plants have a tropical appearance, with lush foliage and 8cm flowers with prominent stamens. Once fully open, they are sweetly fragrant. The Royal Horticultural Society has given it its prestigious Award of Garden Merit (AGM).
Grow Cobaea scandens in moist but well-drained soil in full sun. Deadhead spent blooms to prolong flowering.
How to grow Cobaea scandens
-
Plant size
10m height
3m spread
-
Aspect
South facing, west facing
- Sun exposure: Full sun
- Hardiness: Half hardy
- Soil type: Well drained / light / sandy / clay / heavy / moist / chalky / alkaline / acidic
Plant calendar
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sow | ||||||||||||
| Sow |
J
Do not Sow in January |
F
Do not Sow in February |
M
Do Sow in March |
A
Do Sow in April |
M
Do Sow in May |
J
Do not Sow in June |
J
Do not Sow in July |
A
Do not Sow in August |
S
Do not Sow in September |
O
Do not Sow in October |
N
Do not Sow in November |
D
Do not Sow in December |
| Plant | ||||||||||||
| Plant |
J
Do not Plant in January |
F
Do not Plant in February |
M
Do not Plant in March |
A
Do not Plant in April |
M
Do Plant in May |
J
Do Plant in June |
J
Do not Plant in July |
A
Do not Plant in August |
S
Do not Plant in September |
O
Do not Plant in October |
N
Do not Plant in November |
D
Do not Plant in December |
| Flowers | ||||||||||||
| Flowers |
J
Plant does not flower in January |
F
Plant does not flower in February |
M
Plant does not flower in March |
A
Plant does not flower in April |
M
Plant does not flower in May |
J
Plant does not flower in June |
J
Plant does flower in July |
A
Plant does flower in August |
S
Plant does flower in September |
O
Plant does flower in October |
N
Plant does flower in November |
D
Plant does not flower in December |
Cobaea scandens and wildlife
Cobaea scandens has no particular known value to wildlife in the UK.
Is Cobaea scandens poisonous?
Cobaea scandens has no toxic effects reported.
No reported toxicity to Birds
No reported toxicity to Cats
No reported toxicity to Dogs
No reported toxicity to Horses
No reported toxicity to Livestock
No reported toxicity to People
Plants that go well with Cobaea scandens
