Is it in flower yet Ward. Orange and yellow tipped flowers or red?
Cheri
(aka hummymummy vancouver, b.c. canada z8)

I have one I bought at the Philadelphia flower show it was very tiny But it's been growing and blooming off and on It's about 36" now because I just built a twig tepee for it It sulks then recovers a couple of days later I still have it inside on my kitchen window sill I will put it outside soon not sure when. Hummers love it jardine says it's her #1 hummer plant I grew it several years ago and the hummers used it but I don't think it was their favorite but it was in a place I didn't see everyday. Penny has it too she keeps repotting it

Cheri mine looks like Halloween candy corn orange and yellow. Sarah

No, it is not in flower yet, so I'm not sure what color it is, or am I even sure it is inflata. The story went that it bloomed all summer and fall, so already the story is at bit suspect, since whereas it may not be summer according to the calender, I consider it summer in the garden. Hell, it has been 90 degrees most of the week.

Sheri, once it blooms I'll let you know its color and see whether it sets seeds.

Thats what I have too Sarah. I bought it as a 21/2 potted vine in flower last Saturday. It's already grown a few inches. I grew one a couple of years ago and it topped out at about 8ft for me. The hummers are using it but still go to the salvias and native bleeding hearts first.
There is another Manettia popular in the southeast U.S. that I've read about. It seems to be more of a passalong plant. I've searched in vain for years for a a seed source.
It is called Manettia cordifolia.
Cheri
(aka hummymummy vancouver, b.c. canada z8)

Maybe that's the one ward has since it was passed along to him Sarah

Sounds like a vine I would like. DH told me I had better be careful planting those vines. I could get hold of something that I really didn't want.

I have some kind of little vine named Manetia that is in a medium sized pot on a three foot trellis - some of it has reached the top, and no blooms yet -

I have a manettia I bought from trader joe's last year. I think the secret is to fertilize until it start forming the flowers and not too much water. Mine is in a sunny spot and doesn't like direct sun(but I live in SoCal).
Hope this help!
Diana

Here's a picture of mine that I took in march 15th about a week after I bought it. It's grown quite a bit since then.

Mine is like Sarah's. It started out in a 2 inch pot about the same time frame that Sarah got hers. I have repotted it 3 times and it is currently in a 10 or 12 inch diameter pot with a tomato cage in it and it is in the middle section of the tomato cage on its way to the top ring. I keep mine in partial shade and water thoroughly only when the top 2 inches of soil has dried out. Have only fertilized once with half strength fertilizer. has been blooming since I got it. I notice that it blooms better once the roots start to fill the pot. It is supposed to bloom most of the year even inside in bright light.

Penny

Cheri, I've been growing Manettia cordifolia (red tubelar flowers) for years and I don't think it makes seeds or else I'd be collecting them.
The roots are very interesting, as the plants ages it develops thin tubers like corkscrew going deep into the soil. I tried to dig mine up to move to a different spot but I didn't get it all b/c it's been coming back up all over the place. I have a few in pots that I can passalong to you. Just email me. Helena

Helena, that is very kind and generous of you. I haven't had a problem ever importing seed into Canada, but plants or tubers are not allowed. At the very least they could confiscate the plant. Plants can come through if they're accompanied by the relevant phytosanitary certificate from U.S. vendors and one also buys an import permit here. It would be cost prohibitive. I wouldn't want to cause a problem, but hey when I win the lottery, it wouldn't be a problem ;I'm sure you'll find a good home for those little 'corkscrews' (sounds so cool) just wish it could be mine.
I do appreciate the gesture Helena!
Cheri
(aka hummymummy vancouver, b.c. canada z8)

Helena-
I'd love to trade for one. I've got lots of things to trade and am in a zimilar climate.
How about some 'strawberry candy' daylilies?
email me if interested in trading. If daylilies aren't your thing, I've got tons more I can offer, if you give me an idea of what you might like, or even the colors you like...
-T

Well it's been a month since I asked my original question. I'm still not sure which manettia I have, but I've learned a couple of things since June 10th.

Jimmy Dowdell who the vine came from said it should start blooming shortly. Which means I've also learned it is not an early bloomer. The other thing is: this vine gets very tall. By now it is some 10 feet up the dead plum tree and shows no sign of slowing down.

So based on the above, does anyone have any idea what I have? Something this big needs a name.

My plant is climbing up a three foot trellis and now a 7 foot bamboo pole, and is not stopping - very healthy looking, and nary a bloom in sight - I guess I will have to feed it once - but it doesn't look like food is what it needs - partial sun leaning against the vinyl siding - ready to rip off the vinyl siding when I'm not looking - maybe if I yell at it or scare it to death it may bloom -