Cobaea
( ko - BEE - uh )
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At-A-Glance InformationThis genus includes perennial vines that are usually grown as annuals, and need full sun and regular water to bloom and perform well. These vines can climb rough surfaces with no additional support needed. Blooms from spring to autumn when mature, and in midsummer in the first year. Use these vines to climb up trellises or other structures, to cover low fences, or as specimen plants on walkways or patios.
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Cobaea Species and Varietals
The genus Cobaea is a member of the plant family Polemoniaceae, and includes 17 distinct species, only two of which are commonly grown as garden ornamentals. These vines grow best in zones 24, H1 and H2 as a perennial and in zones 3-23 as an annual. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.
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Cobaea pringlei This species of Cobaea is native to Mexico, and produces a climbing vine that reaches between 16 and 23 feet long when mature. Foliage is green, and flowers are creamy white and funnel-shaped. Blooms are held away from the foliage on long stalks. Hardy to 23 degrees Fahrenheit. |
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Cobaea scandens (Cup-and-Saucer, Cathedral Bells, Mexican Ivy, Monastery Bells) It is native to Mexico, and grows vigorously to reach 25 feet tall in just one season. Bell shaped flowers emerge green and mature to purple or white. Cultivars include 'Alba' (with white flowers), 'Royal Plum' (with deep purple flowers), and 'Variegata' (with variegated foliage). |
Caring for Cobaea Vines
Cup-and-Saucer Vines grow so quickly that they are usually started from seed instead of being purchased at nurseries. Start seeds indoors in 4 inch pots. First notch the seeds with a knife and then press into moistened potting mix. Barely cover the seeds and keep the soil moist but not wet as seedlings develop. Transplant seedlings to a warm sunny location when the weather warms up in summer. A spot in the garden that receives between 6 and 8 hours of direct sun each day is perfect for these vines. They will need ample room to grow, and can easily engulf nearby plants in vining foliage. As they grow, their stems can be pinched when they reach the border of their allotted space (or the top of their support structure). This will help to control the size of the plant. They can be grown in containers, though the container must be quite large. Make sure to situate the vine in a spot in the landscape that gets some protection from strong winds, which can damage foliage and flowers. These plants are not particular about soil type or acidity. Soil does need to be well draining, however. If local soils are compacted, do not drain well, or are particularly poor in nutrients, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic matter or compost before installing. Apply a thick layer of mulch around the base of the plant after installation, ensuring that mulch stays at least a few inches away from the stems. This will increase soil moisture retention, suppress weed growth, and maintain a constant soil temperature.
Water new plants regularly. At maturity, they also appreciate moist soil. During the active growing seasons (spring and summertime), these vines will need regular waterings. The soil should be allowed to drain but should never be allowed to dry out completely between irrigations. Whenever the top inch or two of soil feels dry to the touch, it is time to water. Each spring, apply a dressing of organic compost around the base of the plant to support the growth and flowering for the season. An extra compost feeding can be applied in mid-summer for a boost of nutrition if needed. These vines are typically grown as annuals because they are so vigorous and can reach mature size in just one year. However, in some zones, they can be grown as perennial plants. In greenhouses, they will overwinter well. If you are growing your Cobaea in a container, it can be moved to a sheltered location when cooler temperatures set in.
Water new plants regularly. At maturity, they also appreciate moist soil. During the active growing seasons (spring and summertime), these vines will need regular waterings. The soil should be allowed to drain but should never be allowed to dry out completely between irrigations. Whenever the top inch or two of soil feels dry to the touch, it is time to water. Each spring, apply a dressing of organic compost around the base of the plant to support the growth and flowering for the season. An extra compost feeding can be applied in mid-summer for a boost of nutrition if needed. These vines are typically grown as annuals because they are so vigorous and can reach mature size in just one year. However, in some zones, they can be grown as perennial plants. In greenhouses, they will overwinter well. If you are growing your Cobaea in a container, it can be moved to a sheltered location when cooler temperatures set in.
Propagation
Cobaea vines can be propagated either by using cuttings or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the cutting method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your Cup and Saucer Vine, follow the instructions below:
Propagating Cobaea by Cutting
Propagating Cobaea by Seed
Propagating Cobaea by Cutting
- Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand.
- In spring or early summertime, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Cut one or more 6 inch portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip the leaves off of the lower half. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
- Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in warm, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about four to six weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth, you'll know you have roots.
- Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new shrub.
Propagating Cobaea by Seed
- Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand. You will also, after a few weeks, need individual 3-inch pots for each seedling that grows.
- Harvest your seeds. The seed pods on Cobaea plants are pretty easy to spot, they're large and left behind after flowers have faded. Once they have dried out and begun to split open, you can harvest the seeds inside. Cut them off of the plant, placing them in a paper bag. Harvest as many as you can, and place the paper bag in a dry, cool, dark area. They will begin to split open and release the seeds contained inside. Once they have been released, take them out of the bag and put them in a container so you can work with them.
- Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 7-14 days from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
- Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.
Cobaea seed pods follow blooms.
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Cobaea seeds are flat and papery. They are typically tan or light brown in color.
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Problems and Pests
Cobaea vines do not typically suffer from any serious pest or disease issues, though they can have trouble from time to time with the following:
- Aphids
- Spider Mites
Gallery
The common name for these vines refers to the cupped flowers.
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The flowers on Cobaea vines are typically pollinated by bats.
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The life cycle of a Cobaea flower.
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Videos
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How to plant Cup and Saucer vine seeds.
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A quick video on these garden favorites.
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Resources
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Page 255, Cobaea scandens
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