Believe it or not, you actually *can* grow a Coral Bell as a climbing plant! The trick is that there are actually two totally different plants that share the same common name in some regions. Even though they sound the same, they belong to completely different plant families.
The Two “Coral Bells”
Both of these plants are gorgeous and super easy to grow, but they play very different roles in your garden. The standard Heuchera is a low-growing perennial with lovely flower spikes, while the Rhodochiton is the climber of the family.
A Quick Comparison
To see just how different these two are, let’s look at them side-by-side:
Heuchera (Traditional Coral Bells)
- Part of the Saxifrage family.
- Native to North America.
- Grows in mounded clumps; works great as groundcover.
- Palmate leaves that come in a massive variety of colors.
- Tall flower spikes with tiny little bells.
- Blooms in white, pink, or red.
- Flowering starts in May.
- Perennial and evergreen.
- Loves sun or part-shade (depending on the leaf color).
Rhodochiton atrosanguineus (Purple Bell Vine)
- Part of the Plantain family.
- Native to Mexico.
- A true climbing vine.
- Heart-shaped green leaves.
- Large, individual dangling bells.
- Deep maroon to purple flowers.
- Blooms from July through August.
- Usually grown as an annual.
- Needs a full sun spot.
Location and Care for Rhodochiton
Since the Purple Bell Vine hails from Mexico, it craves a warm, sunny spot and definitely needs a trellis or some kind of support to climb on. If you want to grow it in a container, it looks absolutely stunning in a hanging basket. Unlike the Heuchera, this Mexican native can handle a little bit of drought, but for the best blooms, you’ll want to water it regularly during the summer heat. Don’t forget to give it some liquid fertilizer every two weeks!
Once fall hits, things get a bit too chilly for this climber. If you leave it outside, it won’t survive the winter, and you’ll have to start over with seeds next year. However, if you want to keep it going, you can cut the plant back and move it indoors to a bright spot that stays around 60°F (15°C).
Starting from Seed
If you didn’t overwinter your vine, you can start fresh by sowing seeds on your windowsill in late winter. Use a seed-starting tray with sandy soil, scatter the seeds on top, and cover them with just a very thin layer of dirt. Keep the tray in a warm spot and make sure the soil stays consistently moist.
Once the seedlings have sprouted and look strong enough to handle, transplant three or four of them together into a larger pot. Keep them in a bright, cool spot so they can get sturdy before heading outside. Once the weather is consistently warm, they’re ready to move into your garden!