How to Grow Rhodochiton Plants

Gardener's HQ Guide to Growing Purple Bell Vine

The Rhodochiton plant is a half hardy perennial climber. Plants grow to a height of about 3 metres (10 feet).

Rhodochiton plants have heart shaped leaves.

Rhodochiton atrosanguineum
Rhodochiton atrosanguineum – Purple Bell Vine photograph by Gertrud K; under Creative Commons licence.

They bloom from summer through autumn. When in bloom they carry attractive multitudes of drooping purple to black tubular shaped flowers.

A common name for Rhodochiton is the Purple Bell Vine.

Commonly Grown GENUS Species Photographs and Plant Identification

Rhodochiton atrosanguineus

Rhodochiton atrosanguineus syn. Rhodochiton atrosanguineus syn. hodochiton volubilis

Rhodochiton atrosanguineus
Rhodochiton atrosanguineus (Purple Bell Vine), photograph by peganum; CC.

Rhodochiton atrosanguineus
Purple Bell Vine climbing up a wall, picture by David Short; CC.

Rhodochiton Growing and Care Guide

Common Names: Purple Bell Vine.
Family: Plantaginaceae.
Life Cycle: Half hardy perennial, commonly grown as a half hardy annual by gardeners.
Height: 120 inches (300 cm).
Native: Central America.
Growing Region: Zones 6 to 10. As a perennial in zones 9 and 10.

Flowers: Summer and autumn.
Flower Details: Pink, black/purple tubes.
Foliage: Evergreen. Cordate. Toothed.

Sow Outside: Cover seed. Following the last frost in warm areas. Spacing 10 to 12 inches (25 to 30 cm).
Sow Inside: Germination time: two to six weeks. Temperature 60°F (16°C). Seven or eight weeks in advance. Transplant outdoors a couple of weeks after the last frost.

Requirements: Full sunlight. Average soil. Better results in humus rich and moist soils.
Provide support. Provide trellis. Propagate: cuttings in spring.

How to Grow Purple Bell Vine (Rhodochiton)

It is probably best to start off Purple Bell Vines indoors. They should be started about 5 to 6 weeks before the last frost of spring.

The seeds will take about two to six weeks to germinate at a temperature of 15 to 18 degrees (59 to 64°F).

Rhodochiton seedlings should be transplanted outdoors at about 25 cm (10 inches) apart, a couple of weeks after the last frost of spring.

Purple Bell Vines should be grown in a sunny part of the garden in an ordinary soil.

Caring for Bell vine and similar Rhodochiton plants in the Garden

If you require more Rhodochiton plants then cuttings of Purple Bell Vines can be took in spring and summer.

Purple Bell Vines are climbing plants, so will require a trellis or canes to grow upon.

I hope that you enjoyed this guide on how to grow Rhodochiton plants. You may also enjoy the following Gardener's HQ growing guides: How to grow Chickabiddy, Innocence, Digitalis, and Penstemon plants.