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Monday, August 25, 2008

Cardinal Vine Goes Bananas

2008_0823image0027 This is the Red Cardinal Vine that I planted from seed.  I placed it here beneath the very ugly railing that is mounted on either side of my front porch. 

When I planted it, I envisioned it trailing gracefully around the vertical bars of the railing and showing off it's super red flowers.  But, as you can see, it has gone crazy and now when I look at it, it reminds me of a horror movie where some plant (or spider web) takes over the house, killing all the occupants. 

I planted a couple other seedlings in containers, but they did not do well at all.  Instead of "trailing", they are just sticking straight up out of the container, only a couple of inches tall, wondering where the hell they are. 

Have you had success with Cardinal Vine in containers?  What's your secret?

9 comments:

  1. I've seen these things climbing all the way up telephone poles. I'm not surprised it's trying to eat your porch. I have no personal experience with this plant other than the cutting I'm trying to root. Maybe I should throw it out. I'm very afraid now.

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  2. Here, it's too hot for old Cardinal Vine. It whithers and dies. For me and vines, it is always feast or famine, voracious or barely alive. :) ~~Dee

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  3. I don't think we have this plant in NSW, Australia - if we do, it goes by some other name!

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  4. I bought a 2" pot last year at the Rutgers University plant sale and transplanted to a larger pot. I had lots of flowers and saved the seeds. It was well-behaved in its pot.
    This year I grew in pots from the seeds I saved but I have long spindly vines, nothing as lush as yours. I also have no flowers this year. The leaves have turned reddish.
    Debbie

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  5. MMD - I had no idea these were such rigorous growers. I don't think I'll be growing it again.

    dee - I hate that plant feast or famine! But, I guess it does making gardening a little more interesting, huh?

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  6. buddhist - my potted ones are reddish, too. You should try to plant it in the ground if you want it to go bananas like this one.

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  7. Wait until the humming birds find it when they pass through. I love the leaves and the little red flowers but have to restart from seed each year. It has never self seeded in all the year we have been growing it it here in Chicago.
    There is another with different leaf shape but same flower called cypress vine. It does better in warmer climates.

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  8. I love it. I wish I had more room for vines.

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  9. I too grew this vine for the first time this season. I had it in four large pots, with bamboo trellises, around the yard. Unfortunately it didn't take off like I had hoped and there are just a couple of puny runs up the poles... I will try it again next year, in a different spot and in the ground. The leaves on this vine are super cool, plus the cutest flowers! Someday I will have success with the Cardinal, someday....

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