Purple Bells Vine Seeds — Rhodochiton atrosanguineum

Dramatic Dark Bells on an Elegant Climbing Vine

Purple Bells Vine (Rhodochiton atrosanguineum) is one of the most captivating and unusual climbers you can grow from seed. Native to Mexico, this slender, twining annual produces a continuous cascade of extraordinary two-toned flowers — a deep magenta-pink inflated calyx from which a long, tubular bell of the deepest purple-black hangs like a tiny lantern. Delicate, exotic, and endlessly charming, it weaves its way through supports with effortless grace, flowering prolifically from summer right through to the first frosts. Once you discover it, it becomes an indispensable part of the cottage garden.

Why Gardeners Love It

• 🔔 Extraordinary two-toned flowers — deep magenta calyces with hanging purple-black tubular bells, unlike anything else in the garden
• 🌿 Slender, twining climber — grows to 2–3 m, perfect for trellises, obelisks, fences, and through shrubs
• 🐝 Excellent for pollinators — bees and beneficial insects are strongly attracted to the tubular flowers
• ✨ Flowers continuously — blooms from summer through to autumn, providing months of colour
• 🌱 Easy to grow from seed — rewarding and reliable with a long, warm growing season

Growing Tips for New Zealand

Sow seeds indoors 10–12 weeks before the last frost in seed-raising mix, pressing seeds lightly onto the surface as light aids germination. Keep warm at 20–24°C until germination, which can take 2–4 weeks. Transplant seedlings to a warm, sheltered position in full sun with well-drained soil once all frost risk has passed. Provide a trellis or support for the vine to twine through. Water regularly during dry spells. Performs best in NZ's warmer regions but will thrive anywhere with a long, warm summer. Can be overwintered in frost-free conditions as a short-lived perennial.

What's in the Packet

Each packet contains 5 seeds of Purple Bells Vine (Rhodochiton atrosanguineum).