Re: mystery snail-flower vine in Madrid

Thanks Diane, and 
Hi Cali,
Good to hear your voice again!

Your vine is called "snail vine" here in Southern California.
Vigna caracalla, or Phaseolus gigantea (old name)
This tropical vine is a fast grower in the heat of the year, but needs full
hot sun and regular water. It flowers sparsely all spring and summer and
should do well in your Korfu garden. The leaves look like bean leaves to me.
My friend had it trained on chandelier chains in great swags around hot
blank south-facing retaining walls behind the swimming pool. Because it's
evergreen in our mild climate, it always looked great whether in flower or
not. And, I understand it's easy from seed, but I've never tried it.

Jan

PS How are your Glaucium flavum seedlings?

On 10/26/02 6:13 PM, voltaire@islandnet.com wrote

> I'm posting this for Cali Doxiadis, who is travelling.
> 
> 
> Hello all--
> --In Madrid last week I saw an amazing flowering vine I couldnīt
> identify...nobody could tell me the botanical name.  The common
> Spanish name is "Caracol Real."  It flowers in the Fall and has pink
> and white blossoms shaped like elongated pointy snails, about an inch
> and a half long.  It looks tender and Iīm told it dies back
> completely in the winter in Madrid, but is perennial in the Seville
> area.  It looks as if it might belong to the pea family. (I was so
> intrigued with the flowers Iīm afraid I didnīt notice the leaves.)
> Thanks
> Cali
>
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