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Snail Creeper
Phaseolus caracalla is an ornamental climbing bean plant with long inedible pods. It is also known as Vigna caracalla but its common name of Snail creeper aptly describes the shape of the flowers. The petals are curled and attached to the keel they coil around to resemble a small snail shell.
The Snail creeper comes from tropical Venezuala in South America where it grows profusely as an evergreen twining vine at the edges of the forests and along stream sides. In more temperate areas the vine dies down to the ground where the tuberous under stock lies just under the soil. When the soil temperatures are warm enough, usually not until November, shoots quickly arise from this under stock looking for a support to clamour up.. By mid summer the vine will have covered a large area.Flower buds are formed when the days are long and hot.These flowers will continue until early May when long thin pods are formed.
The flowers are highly scented, very sweet. They are a mix of white and purple becoming yellowish with age.
As the Snail creeper goes completely underground through the winter months it is a very manageable climber.Simply cut the vine back to the ground when the leaves yellow through the early winter period.It will never get out of hand having such a short growing period.
Plant it near the house to gain the benefits of the delicious perfume. Grow in well drained soil in full summer sun.
The photo is taken of a vine planted up a pole to run along a balcony of a deck on an upper level of a house.This vine is equally happy growing vertically and horizontally
In early spring as the new shoots are emerging from the ground place snail bait around as this bean is a favourite delicacy for snails and slugs
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