Eccremocarpus scaber aka Chilean Glory Flower

Eccremocarpus scaber has two common names: Chilean glory flower and glory vine. This tender climber is part of Bignoniaceae, the trumpetvine family. It grows wild in eastern Peru, Chile, and southwestern Argentina. Where winters stay mild, it lives for years and stays green. In colder places, gardeners grow it for just one year. Its thin stems climb with tendrils and need firm support.

Garden plants reach about 8–13 feet [2.5–4 metres] tall. They spread about 1.6–3.3 feet [0.5–1 metre]. In warm climates, stems can reach 15 feet [4.6 metres] in one season. Plants grown for one year in cold regions often stay shorter. Green leaves grow in turn along the stems. Each pinnate leaf has smaller parts called leaflets. Each leaf reaches about 0.25 feet [0.076 metres] long. Leaves on older stems have three to seven leaflets. Those on younger stems have fewer. The oval leaflets have clear veins and few hairs. Some form tendrils that grip nearby supports.

Orange-red flowers grow in groups at the stem tips. Each bloom forms a tube about 0.08 feet [0.025 metres] long. Bloom can last from late spring into autumn. Plants grown for one year may start to bloom later. The flowers draw hummingbirds and last well when cut. In autumn, oval seed cases, or capsules, hold black, winged seeds. Their wrinkled skin gives the plant its name, scaber. Wind carries the seeds away from the parent plant.

Give this vine rich soil that drains well but stays moist. Full sun gives the best bloom, though plants accept some shade. The RHS lists sandy and loamy soils across the pH range. It also says the vine resists drought. Other sources stress the need to keep soil moist. Give it support and a spot safe from frost. The RHS rates it H3; US sources list zones 8–10. With protection, roots may live through zone 8 winters. Start seed indoors in late winter for earlier blooms. You can also raise plants from tip cuttings.

Grow it on fences, trellises, pergolas, or supports beside walls. It also suits pots, courtyards, and cottage gardens. Few pests or diseases cause serious harm. Under glass, watch for spider mites and whiteflies. Its fast growth and large seed crops cause problems in New Zealand. There, it is an invasive weed. North Carolina reports no such spread. The supplied sources do not show whether it is safe to eat or toxic.