Eccremocarpus scaber Flower (05/05/2012, Kew gardens, London)
Position: Full sun
Flowering period: Late spring to late summer
Soil: Moist, well drained
Eventual Height: 4m
Eventual Spread: 1.5m
Hardiness: 8a to 11
Family: Bignoniaceae
Eccremocarpus scaber is a fast growing evergreen perennial climber. Its dark green leaves are pinnate, up to 7cm long. Its leaflets are oblong with entire margins, are up to 2.5cm long and are boldly veined. It clings by tendrils. Its orange/ red flowers are tubular, up to 2.5cm long and appear in terminal clusters racemes which are up to 15cm long. Its fruit are a capsule which may be up to 5cm long.
Eccremocarpus scaber, commonly known as Chilean Glory Vine, Glory Vine, Beauty Vine, Chupa-chupa, Lorito and Voqui, is native to Chile, Argentina and Peru. Eccremocarpus scaber is synonymous with Calampelis scaber.
The etymological root of the binomial name Eccremocarpus is derived from the Greek ekkremasis meaning ‘hanging from’ and karpos meaning ‘fruit. Scaber is from the Latin meaning ‘scabby’ or ‘rough’.
Eccremocarpus scaber (05/05/2012, Kew gardens, London)
The landscape architect may find Eccremocarpus scaber useful as a fast growing self clinging climber. In the UK it is likely that it will die back to ground level unless it is grown in a sheltered location. It is often grown as an annual in the UK.
Ecologically, E. scaber is attractive to Hummingbirds.
E. scaber prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil.
Eccremocarpus scaber requires little maintenance.
