A Gift From A Friend !

It is a gorgeous plant...the blooms look almost "too perfect" when they open. If you get any seeds from it I wouldn't mind a few :-))))

It is gorgeous Louise and interesting to see the different stages of growth!

That is lovely, is it hardy Louise?

Thanks girls :-))

Alice, i'll send some if possible :-/

Annella, i read-up on it in my 'Expert Flower' book and although it's known as a half hardy annual it 'does' say that it may survive a winter in a mild district ..... in my 'micro-climate' (as Spritz calls it!!!) it just 'may' survive !
I'm not going to dig it out because i'd like to see if it 'does' see it through - watch this space ;-)
There are plants out there that 'do' defy the odds, so you never know ;-)

Be lovely if it does Louise, doubt I would stand a chance here :-))

That;s beautiful Louise, what a great gift!

That's a beauty Louise, if you have any more seeds going spare I would certainly like some. Lovely gift from friend.......

really lovely Louise...

Great photos - errr...shall I confess, Louise? 'Twas I - I grew them from seed, and gave one to Louise. Mine, naturally, have NOT thrived like this plant has - I think the position they're in is too windy, and although they're alive, they haven't flowered. :-(((((((

Louise definitely has a micro-climate in her garden, and at least I'll be able to admire one Cobaea that started life in my greenhouse. LOL.

lovely louise, i saw one at garden centre but didnt buy, wish i had now lol

Congratulations ! :o)) I have several plants I grew from seeds but not a flower on any of them lol. The leaves are pretty though :o)
They are a lovely colour aren't they .

Don't give up hope Barbara and Hywel. I've grown this twice up here in Scotland. Both times from seed. The first time, no joy ...eaten by red spider mites! The second time I grew them I kept them in the conservatory until they were about 5 feet tall and planted them out after all possiblity of frost was gone..about June! They did ok, but they didn't flower until September, when they were about 8' high. I think I got about six flowers before the frost came! They are absolutely stunning, I love them! Thanks for Sharing this Louise and Congratulations!! It would be quite a feat if you overwintered them.....you must have a lovely warm spot there!

Grow one for me Karen and send it in a milk bottle :-))))))

She has...I'm always telling her, Karen. It's amazing, the difference of temperature between Louise's garden and mine - not that many miles away as the crow flies.

I'll keep my eye on mine, now you've given me some hope! Good luck Hywel, as well. :-))

lol Ann!! You never know Barbara and Hywel!

it's lovely, mine still hasn't produced flowers either, but I'm going to pot it up later and put it in the greenhouse, this was how I kept the rhodochiton and maurandia growing last year, so fingers crossed it will work with this too ;-))

I think maybe mine are overcrowded in the pot, and also in a shady place. I'll try them somewhere else next year.
I also gave some to a friend but they got eaten by slugs lol.

Oh Hywel! That's a shame. Yes, they need sun...but not wind, as I've found out! :-((

I wonder if they would grow in my conservatory ? Maybe I'll try.

Probably....:-)) Let us know, won't you....

I will Barbara :o)
We get a lot of wind here so it will be better for them I think.

:-)))