This is a new vine for me. It is almost perfect. Starting with the purplish- burgundy stems...the almost heart shaped leaf (I love anything with a heart shaped leaf) that is bright green veined with purplish-burgundy, the sweet pea like flowers that are surprisingly fragrant, the tendrils that grab hold, and lastly the purplish-burgundy...leather like seed pods. This is a delicate vine, I would say....not robust like it's neighbor the Sweet Autumn Clematis. I love the way it looks on my trellis as a backdrop for my containers of herbs.
After the danger of frost, I planted 10 seeds from Renee's Garden...five in the back of each pot. They all germinated.A little slow to start climbing...I put some string between the containers and the trellis to give it a start. I guess I should have just been patient...as the vine took off on it's own...in it's own time. No pests have bothered it...a very forgiving vine from little water occasionally...when I forget.
The beans can be saved when the pods dry out. I've read pros and cons about eating them...some say they are poisonous when they are in certain stages. I won't fool around with that. I can see the pods in wreaths and dried flower arrangements. I think that I will just save the seeds and plant them again next year.
This was a wonderful first time for this vine. Next year (the ever looking forward gardener) I'm going to try the Cardinal Vine. After seeing it at Betty's garden, I think I have to have it.
I have always been intrigued by vines. I have so many here...clematis (several kinds) passion flower, several ivy plants, and Joe just mentioned that he wanted some Morning Glories...oh Lord...I need more trellises.
Balisha
PS...I came back to show the whole trellis where I have these planted. This was taken a little while back...the vines are more filled in now. You really can't make out the vines with the grassy background, but I thought you would get the idea.
