The cardinal climber in my community garden is blooming, finally. A close-relative of the morning glory, the cardinal climber produces flowers that resemble miniature trumpets.
Although the flowers are small compared to the true morning glory, the flowers scream for one’s attention by having a bright crimson colour. They stand out against the plain green foliage. They have been reported to attract hummingbirds! But Singapore doesn’t have hummingbirds.
What’s likable about this vine are the dainty, fine fern-like leaves it has. A very vigorous climber I must say and one has to grow it on a large trellis situated in a location with full sun in order for it to grow and flower well. Grow the plant in fertile, well drained soil and do water frequently so as to not let it dry out. The bigger the plant, the more water it needs due to increased leaf area and higher transpiration rates.
It is known via several scientific names: Ipomoea quamoclit and Ipomoea x multifida and originates from Tropical America. The vine in my garden was actually grown from seeds taken by my fellow community gardener from our offshore island, Pulau Ubin. One can buy packeted seeds from online mail-order nurseries or through our local Known You Seeds distributor.
There is actually another variety with white flowers but it is less common than the red. So if you have grown a vine with white flowers, remember to specially save those seeds!
