Cup and Saucer Vine
Cobaea scandens
Cup and saucer vine is a vigorous climbing plant grown for its large bell-shaped flowers that open green and age to deep purple. It can scramble 15-20 feet in a single season using grasping tendrils.
- Light
- Full sun
- Water
- Regular; keep evenly moist
- Difficulty
- Moderate
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Overview
Cup and saucer vine takes its name from the showy flowers, where a deep bell-shaped 'cup' sits atop a flattened green 'saucer' formed by the calyx. The blooms open creamy green and mature to rich violet-purple.
Native to Mexico, it is a fast, tendril-climbing perennial usually grown as an annual in temperate gardens, where it can cover 15-20 feet of support in one season.
Its rapid growth, long bloom season, and dramatic flowers make it a favorite for covering trellises, arbors, and fences quickly.
How to identify it
- Habit: Vigorous climbing vine reaching 15-20+ ft in a season, clinging by branched tendrils.
- Flowers: Large (about 2 in) bell-shaped flowers, opening greenish-cream and aging to violet-purple, each set on a green saucer-like calyx.
- Fragrance: Flowers develop a honey-like scent as they mature.
- Leaves: Compound leaves divided into oval leaflets, ending in coiling tendrils.
- Bloom: Continuous from midsummer until frost.
Care & growing
Light: Full sun for best flowering.
Water: Keep soil evenly moist during active growth.
Soil: Fertile, well-drained soil.
Temperature: Frost-tender; grown as a warm-season annual in cool climates and as a perennial in frost-free regions.
Feeding: Moderate feeding; excess nitrogen favors foliage over flowers.
Propagation: Start seed early indoors, sowing the flat seeds on edge; germination can be slow. Provide a sturdy trellis or netting for the tendrils to grab.
Habitat & origin
Native to Mexico and tropical Central and South America, where it grows as a perennial climber in warm, humid forests and clearings.
Grown worldwide as a fast annual vine for trellises, arbors, fences, and pergolas, especially valued for quickly covering structures in a single season.
Uses & benefits
Ornamental: A fast, dramatic climber for trellises, arbors, fences, and screens, providing both quick coverage and long-lasting color.
Pollinators: The flowers attract bees and, in their native range, are adapted to bat and bird pollination, with color and scent shifting as they age.
Cut interest: The unusual cup-and-saucer blooms make a striking conversation piece.
Frequently asked questions
Why do the flowers change color?
The blooms open greenish-cream and gradually age to deep violet-purple, a natural shift tied to pollination and flower maturity.
How fast does it grow?
Very fast. In a single warm season it can climb 15-20 feet or more, quickly covering a trellis or fence.
Does it need support?
Yes. It climbs by grasping tendrils and needs a trellis, netting, or other structure to scramble up.
Is it a perennial?
It is a tender perennial in frost-free climates but is grown as a warm-season annual in temperate gardens.
Cup and Saucer Vine guides
In-depth guides for identifying, growing, and caring for Cup and Saucer Vine.
