This tropical plant is sometimes said to be an annual in the UK yet others
say it is a herbaceous perennial. So which is it, and has anyone grown it
and overwintered it successfully outside or does it have to be taken into a
frost free greenhouse.

--
Regards
Bob Hobden
W.of London. UK

On Thu, 12 Aug 2010 22:51:19 +0100, "Bob Hobden"
wrote:

This tropical plant is sometimes said to be an annual in the UK yet others
say it is a herbaceous perennial. So which is it, and has anyone grown it
and overwintered it successfully outside or does it have to be taken into a
frost free greenhouse.

I have grown it, but only as an annual. I'm told that it forms a
tuber like a dahlia but I've never managed to overwinter one. A
neighbour who used to grow it had it reappear one year in a very
sheltered position.

Pam in Bristol

In article , says...
This tropical plant is sometimes said to be an annual in the UK yet others
say it is a herbaceous perennial. So which is it, and has anyone grown it
and overwintered it successfully outside or does it have to be taken into a
frost free greenhouse.


Its invasive and I ended up burning all the root I could find but it
still came back for many years on the compost heap, I know several
gardens pre the last winter that had been growing it as an outdoor
perennial, but it was too fast for my liking (bit like those Physalis
things)
--
Charlie Pridham, Gardening in Cornwall
www.roselandhouse.co.uk
Holders of national collections of Clematis viticella cultivars and
Lapageria rosea

"Bob Hobden" wrote in message
...
This tropical plant is sometimes said to be an annual in the UK yet others
say it is a herbaceous perennial. So which is it, and has anyone grown it
and overwintered it successfully outside or does it have to be taken into
a frost free greenhouse.

Had a couple for several years at base of a SW-facing wall. Also several in
pots have survived in a coldframe - even last winter. OK, I'm in the Sussex
weald, but it still got very cold here last winter for an extended time.

Mind you, haven't seen a flower now for a few years...

--

Jeff

"Jeff Layman" wrote ...
"Bob Hobden" wrote
This tropical plant is sometimes said to be an annual in the UK yet
others say it is a herbaceous perennial. So which is it, and has anyone
grown it and overwintered it successfully outside or does it have to be
taken into a frost free greenhouse.

Had a couple for several years at base of a SW-facing wall. Also several
in pots have survived in a coldframe - even last winter. OK, I'm in the
Sussex weald, but it still got very cold here last winter for an extended
time.

Mind you, haven't seen a flower now for a few years...

Thank you for your replies, still unsure if I should try it here but if I do
I'll plant it deep.

--
Regards
Bob Hobden
W.of London. UK