The Jefferson Monticello in Virginia has them for sale on their website for $15. This is what they say about them: In 1792, Thomas Jefferson wrote to Benjamin Hawkins, "The most beautiful bean in the world is the caracalla bean which, though in England a greenhouse plant, will grow in the open air in Virginia and Carolina." It was being grown in American gardens by the 1830s, when Robert Buist wrote in The American Flower Garden Directory, "Snail-Flower is a very curious blooming plant, with flowers ... all spirally twisted, in great profusion when the plant is grown well." This spectacular flower was popular in florists' corsages by the late 19th-century. Clusters of highly fragrant, white and purple flowers flushed with creamy yellow. Buds resemble a corkscrew or snail. Vines grow to 20 feet in summer or year round in the greenhouse. Prefers full sun to very light shade and rich, well-drained soil with some organic matter. Can be grown in a container. North of zone 9, roots can be stored over winter. Purchases support Monticello and the Thomas Jefferson Foundation's mission of preservation and education. Website: http://www.monticellocatalog.org/670414.html I think I will try one. Bill

Have you traded these away? I have rooted versicolor brugmansia pink or could be peachy pink.

Hi brownthumbgirl, I don't know much about their frost tolerance, mine go through low temperatures, but usually we bottom out at about 36F most winters. At same time, winter high averages about 60F, so pretty cool. Here they seem pretty indestructible. I would be surprised if yours doesn't come back from a mild cold spell, but you haven't posted a zone or location so it is obvioulsy impossible to say. The plant in the pictures above is a solitary individual btw. I have several hundred seedlings from this plant, but only starting to flower now.

Hi. Phaseolus caracalla is the non fragrant Snail vine, Vigna caracalla is the fragrant Corkscrew vine. The foliage is the same but the blooms are very different. I've wintered both over with no problem. I used to keep them inside with HID lights but now I keep the stems cut back to a few inches and keep them in the greenhouse. Here's an old post that shows pics of both. Top is Snail, bottom Corkscrew. As you can see this has been confusing for a long time. lol BTW Corkscrew vine seeds are larger and rounder. Here is a link that might be useful: Snail vs Corkscrew vines