Charlie Pridham wrote:


Smelling wonderfull at the moment it is in full flower and untouched by
winter, Ercilla main claim to fame down here is its ability to
withstand
salt laden gales, not many evergreen climbers can claim to!

Not only that - but since it has proved itself hardy over here this
winter, I'm sure that it can be grown practically everywhere in the
UK.
I wonder why I have not seen it there. (Could it be a recent
introduction?)
And there are not that many evergreen flowering climbers, period.

Er, not quite. Replace the "period" by "hardy in the UK". Most
tropical climbers fall into that category!
Regards,
Nick Maclaren,

Sadly you are not wrong! :~) but to answer Rogers question, I think after
it flowers it is a bit messy, hangs onto the old flowers which turn black,
and also gets very big and heavy very quickly pulling itself off walls. I
always hard prune mine after flowering which gets rid of both problems, but
rather negates the point of having an evergreen climber!
--
Charlie, gardening in Cornwall.

Well - I'll see about that in a few years, I suppose, when it has
covered the wall some more :-)
In the meantime, it sure is a fascinating plant.
By the way, Nick, knowing where you are - do you know if Ercilla
volubilis, in the open, is in the (very extensive and fascinating)
Cambridge botanical garden? I can't remember seeing it there - but
then, I just was there once, some
years ago.
Just wondering how hardy it really is.
Regards,
Roger.