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Purple Bells

Rhodochiton atrosanguineus (roh-doh-KY-ton at-ro-san-GWIN-ee-us)

Family: Plantaginaceae Unknown Vine (vertical)

Purple Bell Vine is a flowering herbaceous perennial subshrub or climbing vine in the plantain family and a native to a narrow stretch of southwestern Mexico. The flowers consist of pink sepals surrounding dark purple petals. The leaves are heart shaped with purple veins and the vine, at maturity in 2 years, can reach up to 10 feet. Purple Bell Vine prefers full sun for maximum blossoms and well-drained soil. It will tolerate some cold temperatures, but should be protected from temperatures below 32 degrees F. It can be grown in a container. If grown outdoors, do not plant until the danger of frost has passed and protect established plants from strong wind. In frost prone areas, it can be grown outdoors as an annual Purple Bell Vine is typically grown as an ornamental. It can be pruned, preferably in late winter, to control its size and shape. The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a factsheet on growing vines, including the Purple Bell Vine. Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: Purple Bell Vine is usually disease free, but can be susceptible to greenhouse whitefly and red spider mites.

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 41 attributes.

How it fits the guild

Guild layer 6 - Vine (vertical) Optimal soil pH Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
See companions & conflicts ↓

Companions & Conflicts

Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.

No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.

Also noted by NC State

Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.

Full plant profile

Growing Conditions
Plant type
Herbaceous Perennial; Shrub; Vine
Life cycle
Perennial
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Mature size
Height: 5 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in. | Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
6 - Vine (vertical)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Climbing
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Deltoid
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
Somewhat hairy, heart-shaped leaves with purple venation.
Flower color
Black; Pink; Purple/Lavender
Flower value
Long-lasting
Flower shape
Bell; Tubular
Flower detail
Dangling, bell-shaped, pink calyx of sepals surrounding protruding blackish purple, tubular corolla. Blossoms last from mid-summer to fall.
Bloom time
Fall; Summer
Fruit detail
Small, .1 of an inch, seeds.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Origin
Southwest Mexico
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Fall
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Container; Hanging Baskets; Vertical Spaces
Design feature
Accent
Garden tags
#ornamental vine #herbaceous perennial #subshrub #shrub #ornamental shrub #flowering vine #fast growing #vine #climber #twining
Problems & Resistance
Insect problems
Greenhouse Whitefly
Propagation
Seed

Planted at Hunnicutt

Nobody’s planted this one yet.