Cardinal Climber

Annual flowering vines are one of the key components of my garden, even though they really only get going late in the season. Cardinal Climber (Ipomoea sloteri) may be the slowest of the annual vines I grow, flowering not before mid-September for me...

...but it's such a beauty I must grow it every year!

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I like it on the deck railing, where it's fringed foliage can help lush things up and provide some shade.

It never seems to flower until the vine makes it up to the top railing of the deck though...

...but then it really puts on a show!

It doesn't seem to matter if I grow this from seed or buy a plant -- it still starts blooming very late.

Any hummingbirds that are left are in for a treat, although I think most of them have started moving south already.

Nice little blooms, except that red color is very difficult for digital cameras to capture -- it oversaturates so easily.

Just doesn't have the same impact in B&W does it?

I wonder if I'll get some seed this year?

Maybe this will turn into a "weed" in my yard just like Cypress vine (Ipomoea quamoclit), where I'll never have to worry about buying a seed packet or plant again? I hope so!

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