Manettia inflata

Consumers are hot for container plantings including color bowls, combination planters and topiaries. Manettia inflata -- common name candy corn vine or firecracker plant -- is a graceful, twining tender perennial (USDA Hardiness Zone 10) that could be used in various annual container plantings. Its unusual flowers and climbing habit make it a great choice for large planters, trellises and topiary frames.

The threadlike, self-twining stems with dark-green, ovate leaves can quickly fill in a container or completely cover a topiary. Plants are easy to train to cover wire frames, hoops and trellises.

Plants continually produce 1/2- to 3/4-inch, waxy, single, tubular, bright-yellow flowers. The yellow base of the flower tubes are densely covered with red bristles, which make the flowers resemble candy corn.

Outdoors, protect plants from high light levels. Plants brought indoors will continue to flower for consumers if they are kept actively growing and provided with bright light (indoor southern exposure).

The flower color is ideal for fall promotions (Halloween and Thanksgiving) in 6-inch pots with a frame or in novelty planters. It can also be mixed with other fall-flowering plants in indoor and outdoor containers as well as in landscape plantings.

Plants will be offered to consumers in the 1998 Burpee plant catalog.

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Plant one vegetatively propagated cutting (available in 70-cell plug trays) in a 6-inch pot and three plugs in a 10-inch container. Plants do not need to be pinched and growth regulators aren't necessary.

Growing temperature range is 65F-90F. Finish time is normally 12-14 weeks, but can be shortened if plants are grown at warmer temperatures. Plants do best at a light level of 6,000-9,000 footcandles.

Plant cuttings in a well-draining, organic medium that should be allowed to dry out slightly between waterings. Feed with 150 parts per million nitrogen from a 17-15-17 constant feed.

Aphids are usually the only pest problem.

Specifics

Name: Manettia inflate

Crop timing: 12-14 weeks in 10-inch container with three plugs; crop time can be shortened if grown in warmer temperatures.

Grower benefits: Wide temperature growing range. Plants don't need to be pinched or treated with a growth regulator and are relatively pest free. Flower color is ideal for fall promotions in 6-inch pots with a frame or novelty planters. It can also be mixed indoors and outdoors with other fall-flowering plants.

Selling points: Graceful, twining plant for large planters, topiaries and trellises. The unique bright-yellow-and-red, tubular flowers really stand out against the dark green foliage. Can flower year-round if kept actively growing under bright light. Plants in outdoor containers can be moved indoors and will continue to grow and flower when placed in a southern exposure. Plants tolerate some wilting.

For more: Green Leaf Enterprises Inc., RD 1, Box 495D, Blairsville, PA 15717; (800) 654-4333; fax (412) 479-3076; http://www.horticulture.com/greentips