Asarina purpusii Victoria Falls Seeds - Trailing Snapdragon

Asarina purpusii 'Victoria Falls' is a tender perennial, often treated as an annual. It forms trailing stems, densely covered with dark green heart-shaped foliage and cascades of deep purple-pink, trumpet-shaped blooms in lime green bracts. This compact asarina flowers profusely from mid-summer until the first frosts. Ideal for hanging baskets, windows boxes and conservatories. This heat-loving plant thrives in a sunny location in cool, well-drained soil.

Asarina purpusii, sometimes named Maurandya erubescens var.purpusii, is a tuberous climbing or creeping, woody-based perennial native to Central America and Mexico. It belongs to the Plantaginaceae family. The cultivar 'Victoria Falls' is a compact strain that rapidly grows to 45 in height for a width of at least 50 cm. The arching stems are densely covered with shiny, dark green, semi-evergreen triangular leaves with toothed margins. Flowering starts in July and continues until the first frosts. If the plants are kept in a warm place, they will continue to flower during the winter months. The abundant axillary flowers are trumpet-shaped with 5 tapering lobes. The base of the corolla is enclosed in lime-green or chartreuse bracts that contrast nicely with the purplish red petals. The outside of the corolla is slightly hairy. The flowers give way to seed capsules, each containing several seeds that germinate easily.

Climbing asarines are original plants that are easy to grow, ideal for unheated conservatories. When grown outdoors, they will scramble up shrubs, small trees or fences in a single season due to their rapid growth. 'Victoria Falls', similarly to Morning Glory, is perfect for hanging baskets from which it will tumble down in richly-coloured cascades. It can also be left to roam in rock gardens or over low retaining walls. It is essential to provide them with a warm, sunny spot and soil that remains cool and moist.

Asarina seeds are best left to experienced, “seasoned” gardeners as they are extremely small, like fine dust.