Canary creeper

Canary creeper: how do you recognise it?

Habit

Annual climber 2–3 m tall that clings by twining leaf stalks, about 50 cm wide.

Leaves

Deeply 5-lobed, blue- to grey-green and finely cut, about 5–7 cm across.

Flower

Canary-yellow, 2–3 cm, with two large fringed upper petals and three smaller lower ones, from July to October.

Seed

Large seeds in small three-part fruits; they ripen in September–October.

Roots

Fine and shallow; the plant dislikes being moved, so sow in individual pots.

Flowering: July–October · Harvest and fruit: June–October · Sowing: April–May · Plants: May–June

Why grow it?

• Grows very fast: to 2–3 m in one summer, ideal for covering a bare fence, wall or obelisk.
• Flowers from July until the first frost with canary-yellow, fringed blooms.
• Also does well in partial shade, where few annual climbers flower.
• Flowers and young leaves are edible, with a mildly peppery taste.
• Cheap and easy to grow from seed.

Canary creeper: where does it grow best?

• Sun to partial shade; in too much shade flowering is limited.
• Ordinary, well-drained garden soil: sand, loam or clay, acid to chalky.
• Prefers poor to ordinary soil: too much feed gives lots of leaf and few flowers.
• Sheltered from strong wind, with a support: mesh, twigs, strings or netting.
• Plant 30–40 cm apart at the foot of a fence, wall or obelisk.

Light

Sun and partial shade

Soil type

Sand, loam or clay

Acidity

Not fussy

Moisture

Normal

Size

2.5 m tall, 0.5 m wide

Hardiness

Frost tender: plant out after the last frost (mid-May)

Goes well with

• Sweet pea: Scented flowers on the same netting; together they make a colourful wall.
• Black-eyed Susan vine: Orange flowers with a black throat beside the canary-yellow of the creeper.
• Morning glory: Blue trumpet flowers contrast beautifully with the yellow flowers.
• Clematis: The canary creeper climbs through the branches and flowers when the clematis has finished.
• Pot marigold: Orange flowers at the base beside the yellow climber.

Canary creeper: when and how to plant it?

Plant in May–June.

1. Sow indoors in April, or outside from late May, when frost is no longer a risk.
2. Soak the large seeds overnight in lukewarm water and sow them 1–2 cm deep, one per 7–9 cm pot.
3. Put the pots in a bright place at 15–20 °C; they germinate in about 2–3 weeks.
4. Plant the young plants outside from late May, 30–40 cm apart, after hardening them off well.
5. Give a support and water in at once; guide the young stems towards the mesh.
6. A mulch of grass clippings or compost around the base keeps the soil moist.

Care

Water

Moderate: let the top layer dry out, but water well in long dry spells, especially in pots.

Feeding

Little or none. Too much nitrogen gives lots of leaf and few flowers. In pots an occasional flower feed is enough.

Support

Guide the stems upwards; they climb with twining leaf stalks and need mesh, twigs or strings.

Deadheading

Not needed. Leave a few flowers for seed or cut them to prolong flowering.

Harvesting

Pick flowers and young leaves fresh for salads or decoration; use only plants that have not been sprayed.

Tip: Sow it in individual pots: it dislikes being moved. A sturdy net or twigs give it a hold, and it flowers best in poor soil.

Canary creeper: when to prune it?

When: It is not pruned; guide the stems during the growing season and cut surplus shoots in July.

How:

• In summer, cut back stems that are too long or tangled to keep the plant well guided.
• Remove withered leaves and flowers.
• After the first frost, pull up the whole plant and compost it.

Pruning calendar and basic rules

Propagation

Seed

In April indoors, in 7–9 cm pots; 1–2 cm deep at 15–20 °C. Or from late May where it is to grow, 30–40 cm apart.

Own seed

Let a few flowers ripen and pick the seeds in September–October once they are dry. Store them dry and cool until next spring.

Canary creeper: how does it get through the winter?

Hardy to 0 °C: protect in harsh winters.

• An annual and frost-tender: the plant dies at the first frost.
• Pull it up and compost it; keep some seed for next year if you like.
• It does not overwinter outdoors and hardly grows on in a pot indoors.

Diseases and pests

• Aphids: Black or green aphids on young shoots, especially in dry weather. Rinse with water or pinch out the tips; ladybirds help.
• Cabbage white caterpillars: Holes in the leaves in July–August. Pick off the caterpillars or cover the plants with fine netting.
• Slugs: Young plants are eaten quickly. Use iron phosphate pellets or collect them in the evening.
• Few flowers: Usually too much feed, too much shade or too much water. Stop feeding and water less.
• Powdery mildew: White powder on the leaves in dry late summers. Water at the base and cut off affected leaves.

Through the year

• April: Sow indoors in 7–9 cm pots.
• May: Harden off. Plant outside or sow in place from late May.
• June: Give a support. Guide the stems upwards.
• July: First flowers. Water in dry weather.
• August: Full flower. Watch for aphids and caterpillars.
• September: Keeps flowering. Collect the first seed.
• October: Last flowers until the first frost. Clear the plant.

Edible and useful

Flowers (July–October)

Pick the small, fringed yellow flowers from July to October. They taste peppery, like nasturtium but milder: pretty and punchy on salads, in herb butter or on bread with soft cheese.

Leaves (June–October)

The young, hand-shaped leaves from June to October are edible too, with a sharp, cress-like taste: a few, finely shredded, in salads, cream cheese or herb butter.

Storing

Flowers and leaves are best fresh: pick them just before use. In a box with a damp piece of kitchen paper they keep for a day in the fridge.

Caution: Canary creeper is edible in normal amounts; do not eat too much at once, as the sharp mustard oils can irritate the stomach and kidneys. It is not hardy: sow it again every spring.

Eating and using is at your own risk: see the terms of use.

Recipes

• Canary creeper herb butter (Other · ± 125 g · 10 min)

Did you know?

• The species name peregrinum means ‘foreign’ or ‘wandering’ in Latin.
• The English name canary creeper, sometimes canary bird vine, comes from the flowers, which look like small yellow birds.
• It does not climb with tendrils but with twining leaf stalks that wind round supports.