Rhodochiton atrosanguineum
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PURPLE BELL VINE
Family: Scrophulariaceae
Pronounced: ro-DO-ki-ton aht-ro-san-GWIN-ee-um
GROWING GUIDE
Geographic Origin:
Southwest Mexico.
Plant Group:
Vines.
Hardiness:
Sunset zones: Not listed.
USDA zones: 9.
Mature size:
Height: 10 feet (3 m).
Flowering period:
Summer to autumn.
Flowering attributes:
Long, tubular, black flowers with cup-shaped rose calyces.
Leaf attributes:
Heart-shaped, green leaves.
Growth habit:
Twining.
Light:
Full sun to partial sun.
Soil:
Rich, well-drained soil. Add extra humus at planting time.
Feeding:
In the ground, provide a complete organic fertilizer monthly. In pots, one or two applications of a slow-release fertilizer, depending on how long fertilizer lasts.
Propagation Methods:
Sow seed at 60-65ºF (15-18ºC) as soon as seed is ripe. Old seed may not germinate for 40 days. | Cuttings in summer.
Rainy Side Notes
Here in the maritime climate of the Pacific Northwest, Rhodochiton is a tender perennial that we treat as an annual or winter over in a greenhouse. I haven't seen this offered as starts in a nursery in my area, but it is easy to start from seed. I bought a hanging basket with four plants in it, because I hadn't seen any starts. To winter it over, I cut the stems back to 3 inches and place in the cool greenhouse. This helps get rid of any whitefly or spider mites that may want to winter over with it. I then give it a good spray with insecticidal soap to be sure the plants remain pest free over winter.
About mid February, I repot the plants by digging them out of the old pot and gently rinsing the soil off their roots and transplanting back to the pot with new soil-based potting mix mixed with a slow-release fertilizer that lasts for 9 months. I place the pot in a sunny position and keep it well watered. After danger of frost is over in the spring, I slowly acclimate the plant to the outdoors. In June, it begins to flower and continues flowering until the following fall. I collect the seed from the plant as the seed heads ripen.
I haven't tried wintering this plant over in a warm house, but the plants are worth experimenting with different ways to winter over. You can also grow them as annuals every year from seed. They will quickly grow and flower the first year. Rhodochiton is short lived and declines after the second year.
Purple bells is a great plant to grow up a trellis where it will reach 10 feet tall (3 m). My hanging baskets are normally situated on the east side of the house where the plants receive bright morning sunlight. Whether you grow this in the ground as an annual or in a hanging basket, it will bring you a long season of flowers and add an exotic touch to your garden.
Debra Teachout-Teashon
Photographed in author's garden.
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