STICTOCARDIA MACALUSOI SEEDS INDIGENOUS PERENNIAL CLIMBER IN PORT ELIZABETH

Stictocardia is a genus of herbaceous or woody climbers in the morning glory family, Convolvulaceae. The genus name Stictocardia means ‘dotted heart’ in reference to the dark glands at the lower leaf surface of the heart shaped leaves.  Stictocardia macalusoi commonly known as Scarlet African Morning Glory is a very rare indigenous perennial robust climber with dark purple to blue vines covered in large heart-shaped leaves.         It bears very showy large red trumpet shaped flowers with yellow centres all year round. This plant is well suited to pot culture as well as being used under trees where they are allowed to scramble up lower branches. Stictocardia macalusoi will easily cover any trellis, fence or lattice support in one season. Stictocardia macalusoi will bloom more profusely than its cousin Stictocardia beraviensis and is much more dramatic in its colour intensity and form. Stictocardia seeds need to be scarified before soaking overnight and sowing the next morning. Barely nick the hard outer seed coat with a file, sandpaper or nail clippers. Be very careful not to nick too deep so as to damage the embryo, the white part inside the seed. Seed germinates easily in a damp mixture of fine humus-rich soil with some sand. A glass sheet on top helps keep the soil moist but do allow some air to circulate. Newspaper on top of the glass will help germination by keeping the seeds dark. Use light soil rich in humus but with good drainage and add some super phosphate. Water the plant well at first and then moderately all year but especially in summer. Add compost at planting time and again 2 or 3 times per summer, as mulch. Give an occasional dressing of fertilizer for flowering plants (with ratio of N:P:K = 3:1:5) or a general fertilizer (ratio of 2:3:2).