Vigna caracalla (Snail Vine)
Posted: July 23rd, 2013, 5:44 am
| 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 |
