Eccremocarpus scaber is a fast-growing, tendril-climbing perennial vine native to the coastal ranges and scrublands of Chile and adjacent regions of southern South America. In its natural habitat it scrambles through shrubs and rocky slopes, where its fine-textured foliage weaves easily into surrounding vegetation. Maybe a bit outside of the box of the rock garden, but every garden can use a vine somwhere, especially one that is an absolute hummingbird magnet.
From late spring through autumn, it produces an abundance of slender, tubular flowers in glowing shades of orange, red, or apricot, held in loose sprays along the stems. These nectar-rich blooms are highly attractive to hummingbirds and other long-tongued pollinators, giving the plant a constant sense of movement and life when in flower. The finely divided, pinnate foliage adds a soft, ferny texture even when the plant is not in bloom.
In cultivation, Eccremocarpus scaber is valued as a quick seasonal screen or vertical accent, especially on trellises, fences, or light structures where it can climb freely. It performs best in full sun and well-drained soil with moderate fertility, and will flower most heavily under warm, bright conditions. In cooler climates it is often grown as an annual or tender perennial, as it is only lightly frost tolerant.
Best suited to USDA Zones approximately 9–11 as a perennial, though easily grown as a seasonal vine in colder regions, this species brings a distinctly subtropical energy to the garden—lively, floriferous, and constantly in motion wherever it is given support to climb.
Eccremocarpus scaber is a fast-growing, tendril-climbing perennial vine native to the coastal ranges and scrublands of Chile and adjacent regions of southern South America. In its natural habitat it scrambles through shrubs and rocky slopes, where its fine-textured foliage weaves easily into surrounding vegetation. Maybe a bit outside of the box of the rock garden, but every garden can use a vine somwhere, especially one that is an absolute hummingbird magnet.
From late spring through autumn, it produces an abundance of slender, tubular flowers in glowing shades of orange, red, or apricot, held in loose sprays along the stems. These nectar-rich blooms are highly attractive to hummingbirds and other long-tongued pollinators, giving the plant a constant sense of movement and life when in flower. The finely divided, pinnate foliage adds a soft, ferny texture even when the plant is not in bloom.
In cultivation, Eccremocarpus scaber is valued as a quick seasonal screen or vertical accent, especially on trellises, fences, or light structures where it can climb freely. It performs best in full sun and well-drained soil with moderate fertility, and will flower most heavily under warm, bright conditions. In cooler climates it is often grown as an annual or tender perennial, as it is only lightly frost tolerant.
Best suited to USDA Zones approximately 9–11 as a perennial, though easily grown as a seasonal vine in colder regions, this species brings a distinctly subtropical energy to the garden—lively, floriferous, and constantly in motion wherever it is given support to climb.