
BOTANICAL NAME: Cochliasanthus caracalla (syn.Vigna caracalla)
COMMON NAME: Snail Vine
Family: FABACEAE
ORIGIN: Tropical South America and Central America
A WORD ABOUT COMMON NAMES. This particular plant is often confused with others because there are many that have been given the common name of SNAIL VINE. One in particular could cause you problems if you got them mixed up, Phaseolus giganteus, because unlike our friend above – Cochliasanthus caracalla – this one is incredibly fast growing and can become a terribly invasive weed within a very short period of time, particularly if planted close to a water source. Buyer beware! In addition, eminent writers of horticultural textbooks often confuse the two and put the wrong image with the description – so you could be forgiven for confusing the two yourself? (Stirling Macaboy, What Flower is That).
THIS PLANT originally got its name from the Greek – kokhlias – meaning snail shell or screw. The caracalla part is a corruption of the Portuguese caracol – meaning snail.

WHY SHOULD YOU PLANT ONE? For the flowers alone. I have the Cochliasanthus planted in my garden and it flowers from December through to February. It brings me abundant joy – not only because of the beauty of the flowers but because I can smell its heady fragrance from twenty metres away – a divine scent that is a cross between jasmine and gardenia.
GREENING THE VERTICAL SPACES in a garden is always a top idea too. It adds another dimension of beauty and interest. (I have put some further ideas for this in the link at the bottom of the page).

HOW DOES IT GROW? It is a twining climber and ideally suited for growing over an arbour so that you can get the benefit of the sprays of beautiful flowers that hang down in panicles. I use it for that purpose in my garden – to frame the entrance-way that leads down some steps from one section to another. It is also a focal point from the windows from the back part of my house.
IT IS A PERENNIAL CLIMBER that dies down completely in the winter just leaving a woody rope like stem that will bear the shoots of spring foliage come October. I have a delicate climbing rose that takes over ( sp.Edna Walling) when the snail vine is bare – so I usually always have something flowering over this arbour for most of the year.
LEAVES are soft green, trifoliate – in threes – and in a pattern like the ace of clubs. If you have ever grown beans you will immediately think they look like bean leaves – and you would be completely correct – they are all in the same large family of legumes.
FLOWERS are extremely unusual in their curled around snail-like shape. In fact there is only one plant in the Cochliasanthus genus – and this is it. Flowers start out as tight, white corkscrew buds that go through many shades of lavender, blue, mauve and purple, as they are opening – then fade to yellow and orange.

HOW TO KEEP IT HAPPY? Where a plant comes from will tell you most of what you need to know about its cultivation. This climber is from the subtropics of South America. It likes a hot sunny spot, humid summers and frost-free winters.
PLANT IT in rich composted soil; keep the water up to it; feed it a couple of times a year (I use Organic Life); and top up the mulch when needed.
IT’S A TROUBLE FREE PLANT TO GROW and I have never seen it suffer from any pests or diseases. The flowers are a magnet for bees and butterflies.

HOW TO PROPAGATE THIS CLIMBER? I have never seen this plant for sale in any nursery but I know that you can buy seeds online. Generally, it is one of those beloved plants shared between friends and neighbours. That’s where I got the seeds from for mine – my neighbour – who had it growing over a pergola that quite took my breath away the first time I saw it. I have never tried growing it from a cutting because the growth on mine is pretty green and sappy, but the experts say that you can.
IT HAS HARD ROUND SEEDS that are produced in these bean-like pods – the bees have been (bean) doing their work! The pod will turn from fleshy green to papery brown – this is the time to harvest the seeds. Germination rate is pretty good and I have given a lot away over the years – I often find opportunist seedlings popping up from fallen pods in my garden. I plant the seeds in a pot in springtime, after first soaking them overnight in warm water. They are ready to plant out when they have grown their second set of leaves.

“This is the most beautiful bean in the world“
Thomas Jefferson
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USEFUL LINKS
Climbing plants for the subtropics – greening vertical spaces

Edna Walling may be hard to find – a matter of internet searching? It was bred by Alister Clark and first released in 1940. Many other roses have come on the market since then that may prove to be just as suitable?
I can easily locate the snail vine seeds, however your companion rose, “Sp. Edna Walling” Is proving impossible. May I ask your suggestion as where to source? I’d love to copy your idea!
It’s one of those plants that take your breath away, Debra; mine didn’t survive the floods we had last year so I’m just about to plant another one that I grew from seed.
Thank you for this information – I really appreciate it. Can not wait to get it. STUNNING beautiful
Thanks Norma. Good to hear. Notoriously hard to get hold of, but worth it!
Bunni g’s sell snail vines in their potted section
I’ve never attempted from a cutting because the new growth is so green and sappy, Aylin, but I’m sure you could try. I always propagate from the seeds.
I’ll appreciate any info/ guideline about propagating the snail vine from cuttings.
Thank you. Always good to get feedback. My father’s family (Chamberlain) lived for centuries around Royston. Is that you name or where you are from? Di
Chiltern Seeds supplied me with some. Great to see what to expect. My seedlings burst ground after 2 weeks and now have all the appearance of a small bean plant. Nice to see a clear page of information.
Thank you Diane
I would love to help you Susan but, at this stage, there is a very long queue – that is getting longer by the day?? I think you really would be best trying to source them online? Di
Hi Diane. I would love some seed if and when available.
It is gorgeous Siobhan. Your best bet is to try and get some seeds on line. Something has been at my bean pods this year – I suspect the magpies?
How beautiful….. I would absolutely love some seeds from yours if by chance you sell some