Firecracker vine or Exotic Love

Why not bring some to your ‘‘Exotic Love’’ to your garden with this stunning unusual vine. Have you got an old chair or old birdcage lying  around the garden? Why not make a feature point out of it and let this vine climb it’s way around.

                             

Origin: it’s first known point of origin probably came from Mexico but now it is worldwide known. It is also a member of the Ipomoea family

Description: This quick growing climber can grow to up to 3meters in height. It’s stems are long and thin with green oval shaped leaves and they attach themselves to a support frame. It flowers in the summer time and all at once with up to 12 flowers on each flower stem .The flowers start off a bright red and then change to oranges, yellow and whites as it ages.

Where to plants?: This plant needs to have plenty of sun and water for it to produce an excellent display. As it is a quick growing climber it is great for placing alongside fences, hanging baskets etc. As it flowers throughout the summer, it is an excellent plant to grow through other shrubs that have either stopped flowing or are looking a little tired. It is a half-hardy annual plant which means that over here in Europe, if  you cut them back short and cover them with straw compost or a pot then there is a good chance that they may got through the frost and come back the year after

Sowing information: Soak the seeds overnight in cold water and sow them in individual pots in the early spring. Germination usually takes between 10-16 days. Gradually acclimatize until they are ready to be planted after any risk of frost has gone and the weather has warmed up plant in a sunny place in moist soil and provide them with something to climb up. They will flower though the months of July to October