Rich, red to magenta, large, exotic trumpet flowers with emerald green heart-shaped leaves. An absolutely reliable plant, 'Scarlet O'Hara' will tolerate a large planting in a pot, surviving well amongst others.

It will tolerate heat and is a splendid climber for covering trellis-work, fences etc with a dense screen of foliage, and with a profusion of large trumpet-shaped flowers 15cm (5in) in diameter.

History Note:

The original Scarlett O'Hara is an heirloom variety and was the winner of the 1939 All-America Selections award.

It is spelt with a double “t” and is an Ipomoea nil variety. It is not a bicolour, with a white centre, but is completely red.

The true 'Scarlett O'Hara' as described and pictured in 1939 has an all red throat, but apparently the gene responsible for the all red throat in 'Scarlett O'Hara' can be lost, if stringent breeding controls are not implemented.

True type 'Scarlett O'Hara' should be hand pollinated, with strict controls so as to preserve the 'Old Fashioned' true red throat type, as this variety in its original authentic form is becoming a lost rarity.

We have been searching for the illusive “Scarlett”, obviously seed companies are having a hard time providing a true variety for this plant. If anyone ever finds them, please let me know!

Preparation:

Choose a sunny position with moist soil, they cannot grow or bloom properly in the shade. The seed coating is rather hard, and it will hasten germination if you stand the seeds in tepid water for a day or two before sowing.

Sowing: Sow indoors in late winter, or outdoors in early spring

Sow indoors in early spring no sooner than three to four weeks before the last expected frosts, and four weeks before you plan to plant them outside. Alternatively, the seed can also be sown directly where they are to flower once all risk of frosts has passed. Keep soil moist during germination. Germination will take place in 5 to 14 days

Sowing Indoors:

Sow into individual pots or trays of seed compost. Paper or peat pots are preferable. Use well drained soil and cover to a depth of 3mm (1/8in). Maintain a temperature of around 20°C and keep compost moist.

Plants are extremely resentful of root disturbance, even when they are quite small, and should be potted up almost as soon as they germinate. Prick out to individual pots, transplant into 7.5cm (3in) pots or trays.

Gradually acclimatise to outdoor conditions for 10 to 15 days before planting out in growing position after the last expected frosts. Space 15cm (6in) apart. Consider giving them some protection such as a cloche until they are growing away actively.

Sowing Direct:

Sow once the soil has warmer and all risk of frost has passed. Prepare the ground well and rake to a fine tilth. If sowing more than one annual in the same bed, mark the sowing areas with a ring of sand and label. Sow 1mm (1/18th in) deep in rows 7cm (3in) apart. Sow seed sparingly or they will choke out other seedlings.

The seedlings will appear in rows approx three to four weeks after planting and can be easily told from nearby weed seedlings. Thin the seedlings out so they are finally 30cm (12in) apart. Carefully replant thinned plants.

Cultivation:

Ipomoea needs a sunny position for best flowering, but is quite happy to be planted in dappled shade as long as there is room for the plant to climb up to the sunlight.

The plants can grow to a height of 2 to 3 metres (6 to 10ft) and will require the support of a trellis, canes or wires fixed to a wall.

Ipomoea is quite happy to be grown in a container, as long as due care is taken with watering and feeding. In hot climates provide a saucer under the container to maximise the water available to the plant. The size of the container will determine the ultimate size of the plant. A larger pot will need a trellis as a larger plant will be able to be grown.

Remove spent flowers to encourage prolific blooming. Plants will self sow in the right conditions, remove spent flowers or collect dried seed pods if you do not wish to have volunteer seedlings next year.