Photo: Andrés Ramírez-BarreraCC BY 4.0via iNaturalistresized / cropped
Cup And Saucer Vine Plant Care
Cobaea scandens Cav.
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Cobaea scandens, the cup-and-saucer vine, cathedral bells, Mexican ivy, or monastery bells, is a species of flowering plant in the phlox family Polemoniaceae. It is native to Mexico, with isolated sightings elsewhere in tropical central and South America.
Every 7–10 days
Full sun to partial shade
65–80°F
50–70%
At a glance
How do you care for Cup And Saucer Vine?
Water Cup And Saucer Vine every 7–10 days, letting the top layer of soil dry out between waterings, and give it full sun to partial shade. It prefers temperatures of 65–80°F (18–27°C) and 50–70% humidity. Fertilize it every 4 months during the growing season.
Where Is the Cup And Saucer Vine Native To?
What Is the Cup And Saucer Vine?
Cup And Saucer Vine (Cobaea scandens) belongs to the Polemoniaceae family within the Cobaea genus. Cup And Saucer Vine is native to Mexico, with isolated sightings else. Cup And Saucer Vine is also known as Monk's Hood, Cathedral Bells.
Cup And Saucer Vine displays a vining, climbing plant growth habit, reaching up to 10 ft tall with a spread of approximately 3 ft. Cup And Saucer Vine produces large bell-shaped flowers in shades of purple, pink, or white.
Leaf size: approximately 6 inches.
How Often Should You Water a Cup And Saucer Vine?
Cobaea scandens requires watering every 7–10 days. Allow the top layer of soil to dry between waterings to prevent root rot. Reduce watering frequency during winter when growth slows.
Watering Frequency
Every 7–10 days
Let soil partially dry between waterings
What Light Does the Cup And Saucer Vine Need?
Cup And Saucer Vine thrives in full sun to partial shade.
Light Requirement
Full sun to partial shade
What Temperature and Humidity Does the Cup And Saucer Vine Prefer?
Cobaea scandens grows best at temperatures of 65–80°F. Cup And Saucer Vine prefers humidity levels of 50–70%. A pebble tray or humidifier helps maintain adequate moisture around the plant.
Temperature
65–80°F
Humidity
50–70%
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Cup And Saucer Vine?
Rich, well-draining soil with added compost for nutrients. Good drainage is essential for Cup And Saucer Vine to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Often Should You Fertilize a Cup And Saucer Vine?
Feed Cup And Saucer Vine every 4 months during the growing season (spring and summer) with a balanced fertilizer diluted to the strength on the label.
Pause feeding in autumn and winter, when growth slows, and never fertilize dry soil — water first.
Fertilizing
Every 4 months
During the growing season
The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.
How Do You Repot a Cup And Saucer Vine?
Repot annually in spring. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.
How Do You Propagate a Cup And Saucer Vine?
Cup And Saucer Vine can be propagated through seeds.
Is the Cup And Saucer Vine Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list Cup And Saucer Vine, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Keep pets from chewing it as a precaution.
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the Cup And Saucer Vine?
Cup And Saucer Vine is susceptible to aphids, spider mites. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.
Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.
What USDA Hardiness Zone Does the Cup And Saucer Vine Need?
Cup And Saucer Vine grows outdoors in USDA Zone 13b. It survives winters down to planting zone 13b. Cup And Saucer Vine is native to Mexico, with isolated sightings else. In cooler regions, grow Cup And Saucer Vine as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.
Hardiness Zone
Zone 13b
Keep exploring plants
Cup And Saucer Vine is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Cobaea genus — compare its care with other Cobaea species on PlantoScan.
Cobaea is part of the Polemoniaceae plant family — browse all Polemoniaceae genera and species.
Cup And Saucer Vine thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
Related Plant Care Guides
Closely related plants with similar care requirements:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Cobaea scandens Cav., family Polemoniaceae (first published in Icon. 1: 11 (1791)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record, Wikidata.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Cup And Saucer Vine, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Photo: Andrés Ramírez-Barrera, CC BY 4.0, iNaturalist — original.
- Hardiness zone: USDA Zone 13b, calculated from the plant's minimum temperature.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
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