Description
A very vigorous climber with small, crowded, nasturtium-like leaves and masses upon masses of highly scented, dusky old-gold flowers intricately veined with fine, deep blood red lines in the centre.
I repeat that this plant is very vigorous and after a year of establishing (when it looks small and scrawny) it can rapidly make 10-15m (yes metres) of growth in a rich soil. It then covers itself in flowers, from ground upwards. Flowering begins in May with a flush but carries on sporadically well into summer and autumn and in fact the first time I ever saw this in flower was in November, and by then I had to go upstairs in the house it was growing up and hang out of a window to see the remaining flowers on the top of the plant.
Be warned this makes a lot of growth and it isn’t easy to eradicate once established. It will travel underground extensively. It is one of only two “bulbs” that I know of which will grow in the dry shade of mature trees (Ϲyclamen hederifolium is the other) and it will tackle hedges such a Cupressocyparis leylandii or Thuya by simply growing through and over them, flowering profusely and rather magically changing their dull appearance totally.
Plant around 5cm deep in almost any reasonable soil, sun or shade. Undeniably hardy and very tough, though it will sulk for a year with you after transplanting, at which time it needs to be left alone, not prodded, poked or examined to see how it is doing….
A native of shady gullies around Santiago in Chile.
Tropaeolum ciliatum