How to Grow Cup and Saucer Vines

The cup and saucer vine (Cobaea scandens), also called cathedral bells vine, is a summer-blooming, annual vine with large, bell-shaped purple or white flowers. It grows quickly, reaching heights of 10 to 25 feet by the end of the growing season. This vine attaches itself to almost anything, from a trellis to a textured wall. Cup and saucer vines prefer full sun and moderately moist, well-drained soil. For earliest blooms, start the seeds indoors six to eight weeks before the last frost is anticipated in spring.

Things You'll Need

• 2- to 3-inch growing containers
• Potting soil
• Spade
• Organic mulch
• Plant ties
• Balanced organic fertilizer
• Pruning shears

Instructions

1. Fill 2- to 3-inch growing containers with seed starting mix.

2. Plant the seeds at a depth equal to half their length, with the longest end toward the bottom of the container.

3. Moisten the soil lightly and place the containers in a bright location with temperatures of 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. The seedlings will emerge in 10 to 24 days.

4. Transplant the vines outdoors when they are 4 to 5 inches tall and frost danger has passed. Dig a hole double the width and 1 to 2 inches deeper than the vine's root ball.

5. Loosen any tangled roots and place the vine into the hole at the level it was growing before. Water until the soil is very moist and return any loosened soil to the hole. Pat the soil down to remove any air from around the roots.

6. Add 1 to 2 inches of organic mulch beneath the vines.

7. Water only when the top inch of soil feels dry.

8. Attach the vines to a climbing structure with plant ties. Be careful not to fasten the ties too tightly to avoid injuring the plant.

9. Fertilize the cup and saucer vine with balanced organic fertilizer when it climbs approximately 12 inches tall. Feed again when flower buds start to form.

10. Prune away unsightly or dead foliage, as necessary, to keep the vine looking healthy.

Tips & Warnings

• The cup and saucer vine can be grown as a perennial in U.S. Department of Agriculture Zones 9 through 11. These zones include parts of California, Hawaii, Florida, Louisiana, Nevada and Texas.

• Pinch the ends of the vine back to promote shorter, fuller growth.

References

• Cornell University: Cathedral Bells
• Plant-Care: Cobaea Scandens
• Saylor Plants: Cobaea Scandens
• Brooklyn Botanic Gardening: Growing Vines Successfully