This slender, perennial climber makes attractive racemes of pendulous pink flowers amidst its long, pinnate-leafleted leaves as it twines around trees, shrubs, and hedges. It is best known for its seeds, which are used as beads and in percussion instruments, but these are very toxic if eaten because of the presence of abrin. The seeds feature as the header for all our web pages. The plant is native to India, but it also grows in tropical and subtropical areas of the world where it has been introduced. ... Learn More

This rare and distinctive climbing perennial species was originally collected as seed from the Western Heights overlooking Kunming, Yunnan. A vigorous climber, it twines up scrub and through shrubs adding colour in mid to late summer when its attractive purple-blue flowers open. It bears large shiny palmate leaves, and produces generous axillary inflorescences of long-stemmed flowers 5cm long, these are composed of a large upper helmet-shaped petal. It performs bestt growing into the sun in any good soil. ... Learn More

This quite unique herbaceous twining plant will climb to at least ten feet high, and bears from mid-summer to late autumn, long hanging clusters of ten or more large flowers. In addition to having attractive shining green foliage all season long, this selected form has intensely deep blue flowers. Very few good fertile seeds collected. ... Learn More

A. kolomikta is a large vigorous deciduous climber with twining stems. Leaves ovate, those of mature plants tipped with silver, later pink. Flowers white, male and female on separate plants. Grown for foliage effect. ... Learn More

A rare and exquisite climbing poppy relative from North America. In spring rapidly ascending stems carrying corydalis-like ferny leaves, and thousands of pink, dicentra-like flowers which can quickly cover a framework or shrub. Although it is biennial, it is easy to grow and self-seeds readily! ... Learn More

A native of Japan, China and Korea, the climbing, very strong stems of this vigorous, hardy climber, bear five-part leaves, and very fragrant, chocolate-purple flowers, followed by violet, sausage-shaped, edible fruit pods which can be up to 4” long, and which split open revealing sizeable black seeds embedded in a whitish pulp, which is reputed to be edible but we do not recommend this......... ... Learn More

An extremely lovely and unusual climber. Boomerang-shaped leaves on twining stems carrying strikingly beautifully marked, purple-green inflated flowers. ... Learn More

This interesting small climber has heart-shaped foliage and carries numerous perfumed, purplish trumpet shaped flowers for most of the summer, which are most attractive to butterflies. The plant will best show off its many flowers if the wiry stems have some form of low framework or wiry shrub to climb over. ... Learn More

The "Calico flower" is a tender evergreen vine with most intriguing flowers and beautiful bright green heart shaped leaves which grow closely together to create a dense mass of foliage. In summer the vine produces quantities of 3 inch greenish-white flowers which have a s-curved tubular shape, flared at the mouth, resembling a 19th century Dutchman's pipe. The inside of the mouth is covered with a purplish-brown pattern reminiscent of calico fabric hence its name. Winged seeds are borne in dry capsules that split like small parachutes. In the wild these plants are important food sources for several species of butterflies. (Syn. A. littoralis. (RHS AWARD winner) ... Learn More

The quite amazing flowers consist of striking, strong, curved green tubes, with long hairs and interiors that are. These are produced all summer long and are surrounded by most attractive, heart-shaped, silver-veined leaves which festoon this very unusual, drought-resistant, trailing and climbing plant. Native to Argentina, Paraguay and southern Brazil, it also makes an excellent hanging basket plant! ... Learn More

Aristolochia macrophylla belongs to the Aristolochiaceae family of plants and is found primarily along the Cumberland Mountains and Blue Ridge Mountains in the eastern portion of the United States, as well as Ontario, Canada. The reason why Aristolochia macrophylla is often referred to as "Dutchman’s pipe" is because of the 2 inches yellowish-green flowers they produce. Each flower also sprouts from the calyx mouth to further produce 3 brownish-purple lobes. It is this complex of the flowers and lobes that gives the species a close resemblance to Dutch smoking pipes. The flowers start to open up in May and June, the fragrant flowers attract local insects. Once an insect has arrived to the flower, the insect is trapped inside a tube, which forces the insect to carry out pollination. Once pollination has been completed and time has passed since pollination, a fruit resembling a cucumber, between 6-10 cm in height, and 3 cm in diameter is produced. The fruit then ripens, usually around September, turns brown and splits into six fragments to disperse its small, triangular seeds. ... Learn More

This tall, hairless slender twiner, native to Brazil, bears extremely outrageous, almost sensuous blooms, which are patterned with a rippling network of burgundy, red, and purple over a creamy-yellow background, the two lips giving an impression of a gaping mouth, the species name 'ringens' meaning snarling in Latin. This rugged and robust vine will also do well in a container with regular watering. If you happen to be going there on holiday, the roots of this plant are well known as an antidote for snake bites in New Granada. But please do not rely on this cure......... ... Learn More

This newly-discovered, rare, bone-hardy to Zone 3 (USA), bizarre and absolutely amazing climbing asparagus, (to 15feet/5m tall), has glossy green foliage covered in fragrant white flowers in late spring, and in late summer it is smothered with 1/2" bright red berries. The beautiful ferny foliage stays green, even into quite severe frost, serving as a perfect foil for the red berries. Any sturdy trellis or unsightly fence is perfect for supporting it. A unique and unforgettable gem in the garden, there is unfortunately, only the barest information about this plant. ... Learn More

This rare climber/twiner or low shrub bears smooth, ivy-like leaves and bunches of pendulous pink flowers. Its habit and foliage give it a marked resemblance to the lapageria from Chile, although this unique plant comes from New South Wales, Australia. It does best in soil which has been well cultivated before planting and contains organic material or peat. ... Learn More

In early summer dense sprays of bright yellow trumpet flowers erupt from amidst bright green glossy leaves on a slowly spreading woody vine. Bizarre cat's-claw-like tentacles are used by the plant to fix itself to almost any vertical surface. ... Learn More