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Georgia Gardener

Shell Vine, or is It a Snail Vine?

17 years ago

Today I received the Climbing Shell Vine that I ordered (I think), and after researching it online, I find that some gardners had the experience of receiving a Snail Vine rather than the Shell Vine they ordered. The label on the pot stated only that it was a Climbing SHELL Vine, no other name. How can I tell if what I received is indeed a Climbing Shell Vine? I planted it in a pot until I know for sure what I have. i don't have room in my garden for an invasive plant, so any help in identifying what I have received will be appreciated.

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Comments (2)

rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
17 years ago
This is a perfect example where knowing the Latin name of plants helps prevent errors (hopefully). HOWEVER! There is a great deal of confusion about this plant. It is my understanding that the Vigna caracalla and Phaseolus caracalla are synonyms for the same plant (snail vine or shell vine, corkscrew vine, take your pick).

Do a google image search using both of the Latin names and see what comes up. ;-)

If I'm wrong about this, we'll find out shortly.
klauer
16 years ago
If your looking for the corkscrew vine make sure you ask and double ask I too ordered the shell plant with the pic of the corkscrew vine and got the snail vine, it's very impossible to know what your getting tropical 9 nursureys said they carry both I tripled asked them to make sure it is the corkscrew vine I'm just waitting for it to come into stock also daves garden can clear up the difference between the two confusing sister plants. I'm getting my first seed pod and if someone wants to trade the snail vine(only lavendar colored flowers and no scent for the corkscrew vine. Very intersted kllauer76@hotmail.com
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I don't think they are the same plant. After very much research, and reading of forums, I have come to that conclusion. My plant is like the top picture, but my blooms are the size of sweet peas or snapdragon blooms. I read where one person's blooms were about 2 1/2" in diameter. My plant also has grown to well over 20 ft long and many feet wide, completely covering a fence and the ground and has only been growing, from seed, since May. No fertilizer of any kind, just water. It suddenly sprouted well over 35-40 shoots that have the blooms on them and they almost immediately start producing seed pods. This is it's first summer. There seem to be quite a few different experiences with both of the vines. I'm in the desert and it's been 100 degrees and over for months now, with no rain. My plant is in nearly full sun, with some afternoon sun filtered at an angle through a nearby shade screen roof. The leaves are large, in groups of three, and heart shaped with slightly purple veins. The blooms do have a fragrance when they first open, and they smell to me like Dentyne gum. The older they are the less they smell. I just don't think there is any way that the same plant will have so very different flowers and seed pod habits, looks, and smells. It may be that there are even more than the "two" vines since mine does have fragrance, (although you do have to sniff the blooms to smell it) and yet most are saying that their snail vine doesn't. The lady that gave me the seed said it was snail vine. Who really knows?
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I have a snail vine and a corkscrew vine. Both have identical foliage but the flowers are different. The snail vine has lavender flowers with no scent. The corkscrew vine blooms are white and pink and smell wonderful. Karyn The first pic is the snail vine, the second is the corkscrew vine.
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