Vigna caracalla (Snail Vine)

[M Farooq]

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Botanical Name	Vigna caracalla, Synonyms: Caracalla pulcherrima, Phaseolus caracalla L.
Family	Fabaceae
Local Name in Urdu	Not available
Common Name	Snail vine: Read the "caution" note
Life Cycle	Evergreen
Cultivar Name	NA
Fragrant or Not	Highly fragrant
Category(Bush/Vine/Tree)	vine
Height	> 10 feet
Spacing	Not applicable
Flowering Months	Summer time
Flower Color	Bicolor, cream and purple
Growing Areas	Successfully blooming in Lahore
Frost Tender	Yes
Exposure	Full sun
Soil pH	mildly acidic to mildly alkaline.
Propagation	Seeds, legume bearing vine; stem cuttings
Uses	Ornamental
Other Details	Snail vine is one of the most sought after vines for its very unique flower shape and fragrance. From far away the leaves look very similar to the local "saim ki phali" the green been vine. However, the flowers are quite different in shape. Bring soil to a state of visual dryness between watering. Spider mites attack this plant. This vine does not tolerate shade very well! Caution: This is where the controversy starts, for those who plan to purchase its seeds from online sources. Buyers must carefully check whether it is the "true" fragrant vine. It is commercially sold as snail vine as well as corkscrew vine by some vendors. Also some people of the view that Phaseolus caracalla is a different vine, however highly reliable authentic sources comment that http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl/record/ild-17820 is one and the same thing. Whatever be the name, beware that you get a very similar vine, with the same common name, but without fragrance. Image by: M. Khabbab

[mikhurram]

The usual bloom time starts is these days i.e. onwards from first week of September. It is fairly common to see ants climbing over the flowers. Pollination is done by the ants. Seeds are formed after successful pollination and they grow inside the pods.

Healthy snail vines tend to die also which i suspect is from winter cold. People growing them are advised to take cuttings in August/September to ensure they have some stock available.

[khabbab]

I do not think that winter is the issue in lahore for this vine. At least 5 vines have died in last 5 years for me, none in winter. I had always thought that because of tubers, it will re grow but that did not happen. It just dies without any apparent reason. Yes i agree, keeping extra plants propagation through cuttings is best way to grow it.

[Izhar]

I guess it survives in neglect once established