Chris's Weblog – City Chickens

My diary from 2006

Tag Archive: Asarina

Chris's Weblog - City Chickens > Asarina

Spring 2022 – Asarina Scandens Climber

March 8, 2022 Garden, Pandemic, Spring , , , , ,

It has been a long, long year since I wrote on my diary/blog. Mainly, I think, because I have been very depressed and not feeling very well either. I have no idea why, this morning, I feel the urge to write. Maybe its the signs of Spring in the garden; the green shoots peeping through the ground; hopefully it is because I am really feeling better in myself. I hope so.

The pandemic is no longer raging on more creeping amongst us and we are having to live with it. We are all more familiar with our enemy these days and have become knowledgeable about viruses in general and how to keep safe from infection. Public health has become the responsibility of the global population.

Then: just as we were thinking it was safe to go into the water: War in Europe!! The Russian army, once again, under orders from Vladimir Putin, have invaded Ukraine. I don’t intend to relate stories of the war on this blog, but as this is, in effect, my diary I feel I have to mention it as a marker in my life.

I intend to make the main thrust of my blog the daily activities that happen in my home and garden. I have added the Amazon affiliate function again as an experiment.

Asarina, The Snap Dragon Vine.

On March 13th 2021 I sowed a few seeds of this climber and one plant has survived the Winter. Today I transplanted a strong looking root into a deeper pot. I have yet to see a flower but am hopeful that I shall see some this year. I had another look online for information about this climber which I had thought was a delicate creature only to find that it eventually grows into quite a tough woody plant once it becomes established. Other knowledgeable people say that its best to start each year from seed. However, I have searched through my seed stash box and find that I must have sown all of the seeds that I had last year. Fingers crossed for success this year.

Sow indoors in spring in good light with some warmth. Germination can be erratic. Pot up seedlings individually and pinch back when out 10cm. Do not overwater. Grow on until frosts have passed, then plant outside in the border or large containers. Sarah Raven https://www.sarahraven.com/products/asarina-scandens-mystic-rose

Annual Climbers 2021

March 13, 2021 Garden , , ,

This morning I have sown seeds of a few annual climbers. It is last years seed so fingers crossed that I get some success. I have sown them in some warm moist compost in a deep root trainer sized pot. In actual fact I have sown them in a container that i had left after we had eaten the red grapes. I had two boxes so one has served as a cover.

Asarina Scandens Jewel Mixed

Asarina

This climber is listed as a half hardy annual. The advice is to sow February to March on the surface of moist compost and keep in a warm place. A constant temperature of 20 degrees C is recommended and germination should take place in 21 to 30 days. Do not exclude light. I have a bad feeling that I have pushed these seeds below the surface. I really hope that these are successful as they look beautiful and graceful. They are often referred to as the Snapdragon Vine but they look much more fragile. I may try a second pot of these as I am really taken with them. Update on 15th March. Great excitement today when Laura spotted what looks like one of these in a pot today. It must have been potted on into a seven inch pot and left over the winter. Fingers crossed that it does turnout to be Asarina.

This delicate looking but strong growing vine has graced trellis work and scrambled among summer flowers since Victorian times. Still one of the best long-blooming vines, it thrives and blooms summer to fall, and should be given a trellis to climb early in its growth. Annual; tender perennial. Seed to Bloom: 16 weeks

This tender Mexican native plant needs free draining soil in a full sun. Growth is rapid and requires plenty of nutrients as well as a good support to carry the weight of the plant. wiki

Cobaea Scandens White

Cobaea scandens is said to be a vigorous perennial climber usually grown as an annual. It has pinnate leaves and fragrant, bell-shaped flowers which change from greenish-white to purple. Commonly called Cup and Saucer Vine or Cathedral Bells. NB. The title Scandens indicates a climbing or a creeping species.

Ipomoea Pennata

Cyprus Vine or Morning Glory

Cypress Vine seeds make a beautiful climbing vine that is perfect for a concealing screen over a shabby shed of which I have a few. Cypress Vines it seems are easy and fast growing. The two species seem to have very different foliage so I am excited to see how they turn out.

I have sown both red and Pearly Gates, which is white, and known as Granny’s Vine so should suit me well.  A beautiful climber that produces bright white flowers in the morning throughout the Summer. These look superb when mixed with other ipomoea species. I cant wait. This species is very closely related to Bindweed which although beautiful is considered an invasive weed.

Thunbergia Alata Mix – Black Eyed Susan Vine.

Apparently this climber is fast growing with a mix of orange, yellow and white flowers.   Generally grown as an annual in the UK. Should flower from June to September. 

Thunbergia alata, commonly called black-eyed Susan vine, is a herbaceous perennial climbing plant species in the family Acanthaceae. It is native to Eastern Africa, and has been naturalised in other parts of the world