Tropaeolum peregrinum
 |
CANARY CREEPER, CANARY BIRD FLOWER
syn. T. aduncum, T. canariense
Family: Tropaeolaceae
Pronounced: tro-PIE-o-lum pe-re-GREEN-um
GROWING GUIDE
Geographic Origin:
Eucuador, Peru.
Plant Group:
Perennial Climber (tender plant in our climate, treat as an annual in the PNW).
 |
Mature size: Height: 8-12 feet (2-3 m).
Flowering period: Summer to Fall.
Flowering attributes: Bright yellow flowers, with 3 small lower petals and two large upper petals with fringed edges.
Leaf attributes: Bluish-green 5-lobed leaves.
Growth habit: Climbs on supports.
Light: Full sun to light shade in our maritime climate.
Soil: Moist, neutral to acidic, fertile soil.
Feeding: Not required.
Propagation Methods: For earlier flowers start seed indoors six to eight weeks before last frost at 70ºF (15-20°C). Seeds need to be in the dark for germination. They will germinate in 7 to 14 days. Our cold spring soil makes it difficult to start seed outdoors until late spring when the soil warms up. You can sow outdoors but plants will be very late in developing. If you sow outdoors, cover seed with ¼-inch soil. Germination will occur within 10-14 days. I have not tried sowing outdoors; I start mine indoors, and plant out later when the weather is settled.
Rainy Side Notes
It takes a little more experience to grow these beautiful vines from seed, but what a plant to gain experience. This beautiful perennial is normally treated as an annual in my zone 8 garden. During mild years, it does winter over, as it did in the winter of '97-98 and 2002-03. Canary creeper favors our cool summer climate.
Protect T. peregrinum from slugs when young. Mulch well for winter as it may make a second appearance in your garden after a milder winter.
Flowers, young leaves, and fruit are edible and, like its cousin the nasturtium, has the same peppery taste. The petioles (the stalk of a leaf) are sensitive to contact, when it touches something like wire or string, it wraps itself around the object. This enables it to climb up high, like a clematis vine.
Debra Teachout-Teashon
Photographed in author's garden.
Tell a friend about this page!
Questions, comments or suggestions? Would you like to communicate with other Pacific Northwest gardeners? Please join us on our forum.