Cup and Saucer Vine Cobaea scandens
ABOUT
Cup and saucer vine, the common name for Cobaea scandens, is a captivating climbing plant known for its distinctive flowers and foliage. This vigorous vine develops tendrils which help it to clasp onto structures and supports, allowing it to spread and create a lush, leafy display. The foliage of the cup and saucer vine is made up of bright green leaves that are compound, consisting of several leaflets arranged along a central stem. Each leaflet is oval shaped with a pointed tip, and the edges may be slightly serrated. But the true showstoppers are its flowers. These stunning blossoms are bell-shaped and have a unique structure that resembles a cup resting on a saucer, hence the name. The flowers are generously sized and often display a color gradient, starting out as a pale green when they are young and deepening into shades of purple or violet as they mature. The petals are thick and waxy, surrounding prominent stamens that extend out from the center of the flower. When in bloom, the cup and saucer vine puts on a spectacular floral display that can last from summer into the fall, providing an extended season of interest. The vine itself is quite dense, creating a canopy of both flowers and foliage that can be a haven for various forms of wildlife, such as bees and hummingbirds that are attracted to its nectar-rich blooms. This decorative vine can lend a tropical air to gardens, and it's often used to adorn features like trellises, arbors, or fences, where its twining growth habit and enchanting flowers can be showcased to dramatic effect. Its rapid growth and plentiful blossoms make it a favorite among gardeners looking to create an eye-catching vertical element in their outdoor spaces.
About this plant
NamesFamily
Polemoniaceae
Synonyms
Cup and Saucer Vine, Cathedral Bells, Mexican Ivy, Monastery Bells, Convent Bells
Common names
Cobaea lasseri, Cobaea macrocarpa, Cobaea minor, Cobaea penduliflora, Cobaea trianae, Cobaea villosa.
ToxicityTo humans
The plant commonly known as Cup and Saucer Vine is not widely known for being toxic to humans. However, as with many plants, it may cause mild gastrointestinal upset if ingested. It is always advisable to keep an eye on small children and to teach them not to eat plants.
To pets
Cup and Saucer Vine is also not widely recognized as being toxic to pets. However, individual animals may have different sensitivities, and ingestion could potentially cause mild gastrointestinal upset such as vomiting or diarrhea. It is always prudent to prevent pets from ingesting this or any ornamental plant.
CharacteristicsLife cycle
Perennials
Foliage type
Deciduous
Color of leaves
Green
Flower color
Purple
Height
10 feet (3 meters)
Spread
3 feet (1 meter)
Plant type
Climber
Hardiness zones
9
Native area
Mexico
Benefits
General Benefits- Ornamental value: Cobaea scandens, commonly known as Cup and Saucer Vine, has attractive bell-shaped flowers, making it a popular choice for decorative gardens and patios.
- Fast growth: This plant is a fast-growing vine that can quickly cover walls, trellises, and fences, creating a lush green backdrop or privacy screen.
- Ease of care: Cup and Saucer Vine is relatively easy to care for, requiring only basic cultivation techniques, like watering and occasional feeding, making it suitable for novice gardeners.
- Pollinator attraction: The flowers of the Cobaea scandens attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinating insects to the garden, helping to support local ecosystems.
- Adaptability: Able to grow in a variety of soil types and tolerant to partial shade, Cup and Saucer Vine is adaptable to many garden settings.
- Seasonal interest: This plant blooms from summer to fall, providing long-lasting visual interest in the garden during these seasons.
Medical PropertiesThis plant is not used for medical purposes.
Air-purifying QualitiesThis plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses- Cup and Saucer Vine can be used as a natural sound barrier when grown densely along fences or walls, due to its thick foliage dampening ambient noise.
- It can serve as a quick-growing annual screen for privacy in areas with long growing seasons, covering unsightly structures or creating a green wall.
- This plant can be used in educational settings, such as schools or botanical gardens, to demonstrate the mechanism of twining growth in plants.
- For artists and photographers, the unique structure and color of the Cup and Saucer Vine's blooms make it an intriguing subject for artistic compositions.
- In urban environments, Cup and Saucer Vine can be planted to cover and embellish bare vertical surfaces, contributing to urban greening efforts.
- Gardeners might employ the plant as a means of creating temporary green arches or tunnels for summer garden events or weddings.
- Due to its vigorous growth, Cup and Saucer Vine can be used in garden design to quickly fill in gaps and provide a backdrop for other flowering plants.
- The vine can be cultivated on balconies in hanging baskets, where its trailing vines and flowers add a dramatic vertical element to the space.
- The seeds of Cup and Saucer Vine can be used in seed exchange programs to promote diversity and interest in gardening with unusual specimens.
- Cup and Saucer Vine's rapid growth and dense coverage make it suitable for use in theatrical productions or photo shoots where a lush, green setting is required.
Interesting Facts
Feng ShuiThe Cup and Saucer Vine is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign CompitabilityThe Cup and Saucer Vine is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism- Growth and Expansion: Cobaea scandens, commonly known as Cup and Saucer Vine, quickly spreads and climbs over structures, symbolizing personal or spiritual growth and the ability to rise above challenges.
- Mystery and Curiosity: The unusual shape and size of the Cup and Saucer Vine’s flowers, especially when half-open, can signify the mysteries and curiosities of life, encouraging exploration and discovery.
- Communication: With its tendrils reaching out and clinging to supports, the plant suggests the importance of reaching out to others and holding friendships, akin to the way the vine holds onto structures.
- Support: Since the plant requires something to climb on, it can represent the need for support structures in life, whether they be friends, family, or other systems.
- Abundance and Generosity: The vine is known for its rapid growth and plentiful blooms, symbolizing a generous spirit and the abundance of nature.
WaterThe Cathedral Bells should be watered deeply, ensuring that the water reaches the roots rather than just wetting the surface. This should be done once a week, or more frequently if the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch. During the growing season, it's essential to provide enough water to support this vigorous vine, which can mean using up to a gallon of water per plant each time you water. However, it's important to avoid waterlogging the soil, so ensure good drainage to prevent root rot. In the winter, water less frequently, allowing the soil to dry out more between waterings.
LightCathedral Bells thrive best in full sun to partial shade. Ideally, place them in a spot where they get at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily, but are also protected from the hot midday sun, especially in warmer climates. A position with morning sun and afternoon shade often works well for this climbing plant. Full sun encourages healthy growth and abundant flowering.
TemperatureCathedral Bells prefer a moderate climate and do best in an environment where temperatures range between 50°F to 75°F. They can survive short periods of cooler weather down to about 40°F. However, temperatures below 40°F can be detrimental to the plant; consider providing protection or moving it indoors if possible. The ideal conditions for this plant would be warm days with cooler nights, which can help promote better flowering.
PruningCathedral Bells should be pruned to maintain shape and encourage bushier growth. Deadheading spent flowers can also stimulate new blooms. Prune in late winter or early spring before new growth begins. Occasional trimming throughout the growing season can be done to remove any dead or damaged stems and control the size of the plant. The best time for heavy pruning is when the plant is not actively flowering.
CleaningAs needed
SoilCup and saucer vine thrives best in a well-draining, fertile soil mix with a pH between 6.0 and 7.5. An ideal mixture would be equal parts of loam, peat, and sharp sand to promote good drainage.
RepottingCup and saucer vine should ideally be repotted every year during the spring to replenish the nutrients in the soil and accommodate the fast-growing vine's root system.
Humidity & MistingCup and saucer vine prefers moderate to high humidity levels to thrive, but it is adaptable to lower humidity conditions if kept well-watered during the growing season.
Suitable locationsIndoor
Place in bright indirect light with support for climbing.
Outdoor
Plant in full sun to partial shade, providing trellis for support.
Hardiness zone
9-11 USDA
Life cycleCobaea scandens, commonly known as the Cup and Saucer Vine, begins its life cycle as a seed, typically sown in early spring under warm conditions. The seeds germinate and develop into young seedlings with distinctive foliage, which then progressively grow into vigorous climbing vines by developing tendrils that help them to attach to supports. During the growing season, the vine produces large, bell-shaped flowers which are initially green and mature to purple or white, leading to pollination primarily by bees and other insects. Following successful pollination, the plant develops fruit in the form of a capsule containing numerous seeds. The vine is perennial in warmer climates where it can survive through the winter, or it can be treated as an annual in cooler regions. After fruiting, the plant eventually senesces, dropping seeds to the ground which may give rise to new plants in the next growing season.
PropogationPropogation time
Spring-summer
Cup-and-saucer vine (Cobaea scandens) is typically propagated from seeds. The most popular method starts with sowing seeds in early spring under cover, as they require a period of warmth to germinate effectively. Plant the seeds in small pots filled with a seed starting mix, placing them 1 inch deep. It's ideal to maintain a temperature of around 64 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit (18 to 24 degrees Celsius) during germination. Once seedlings emerge and are large enough to handle, they can be transplanted to larger containers or directly outdoors if the risk of frost has passed. This plant enjoys a sunny spot with a trellis or support to climb, which is essential for showing off its vining habit and attractive flowers.
