Family: Convolvulaceae
Common name: Cardinal creeper, Lady Doorly’s morning glory, Mile-a-minute vine, Prince Kuhio vine, Mrs. Horsfall’s morning glory, Kumaon iris
Cardinal creeper is a spectacular, fast-growing flowering vine that can transform your garden with its beautiful deep pink flowers. They are native to South and Central America and are now grown as ornamentals in many tropical and subtropical countries.
Plant characteristics
Cardinal creepers can reach a height of 4-5 meters with their vigorously growing twining stems. These stems are smooth, green, and slightly woody at the base. Cardinal creeper plants need supporting structures like fences, trellises, or tall stakes to grow and flower well.
Leaves are dark green and palmate with 5 distinct leaflets joined at the base, the central one being the longest and largest.
Cardinal creeper leaves are very pretty by themselves, even before the plant starts flowering, adding to the elegance and charm. They are 10-15 cm in diameter, the leaflets radiating out like the fingers of a palm.
Once these plants have good supporting structures to climb on, the twining stems and dense foliage can fill the structure very quickly.
Cardinal creeper plants are known and loved for their beautiful dark pink, trumpet-shaped flowers that bloom in large clusters.
These flowers are 6-8 cm in diameter with 5 petals that are fused at the base from where the white-tipped stamens arise. These petals have the typical origami folds of morning glory flowers, with delicate, wavy edges.
Once Cardinal creepers flower, they become the key attraction of your garden drawing envious eyes to their beautiful flowers, which also attract many pollinators to the garden.
Though the flowers last only for a day, the abundance of flowers produced by the plant ensures a very long flowering period for your garden. Flowering usually happens in summer and spring, though they can flower for longer periods in warm, tropical weather.
Although Cardinal creepers are capable of producing seeds, they are rarely seen in home plants. So propagation is mostly done vegetatively.
Gardening tips
The most important need for Cardinal creeper or for any climber, is a good supporting structure where they can climb and spread quickly. The taller and wider the structure, the better the plant grows and spreads.
Do not let Cardinal creeper plants spread on the ground, as the vines will have stunted growth and almost no flowers.
These plants need good sunlight, though they can tolerate partial shade under large trees. Since these plants have tender, green stems, they cannot tolerate water-logging or clayey soil. Nor can they be grown indoors.
Cardinal creepers need regular watering and fertilization, especially during the flowering season. A well-balanced fertilizer with nitrogen phosphorus, and potassium can work wonders for your plant. Prune any rogue stems or branches only if needed.
Deadheading or removing spent flowers can help the plant bloom again. They are reasonably resistant to pests and diseases, but any infestation needs to be addressed quickly with neem oil or organic pesticides.
These plants can also grow in hanging baskets, but they look best when their twining stems have a foothold to climb upwards.
Uses of Cardinal Creeper
These plants are mostly grown as ornamental plants adding to the beauty and charm of the garden. They can make good screen plants to provide privacy to small spaces, since these plants grow quickly and cover large areas with their leaves.
Parts of the plant were used in traditional herbal medicine in the treatment of wounds, fever, and stomach disorders. As always this comes with a warning, that no part of any plant should be consumed without expert advice.
Propagation
Propagation is through stem cuttings since most plants do not produce fruits or seeds.
Semi-mature stems can be cut carefully from the parent plant and planted in moist, well-drained soil, ensuring that there are some nodes in the soil. They usually take root in 2-3 weeks, and you will have a flowering plant in 5-8 months.
Photographed at: Olde Bangalore Resort
