Common Name:

General Information

Tropaeolum brachyceras is a perennial climbing plant growing from a tuberous rootstock; it produces annual shoots up to 100cm tall.
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food. It is grown as an ornamental in gardens.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. America - central Chile.

Habitat

Not known

Properties

Edibility Rating
Habit	Perennial Climber
Height	1.00 m
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Tropaeolum brachyceras is not hardy outside the milder regions of the temperate zone, tolerating short periods with temperatures falling to about -5°c, and is usually best grown in a cold greenhouse or conservatory[]. Alternatively, the tubers can be lifted in the autumn after the plant has been cut back by frost, stored in a cool but frost-free place over the winter and planted out in April[]. This species comes from a dry Mediterranean-type climate and commences growth in early autumn, growing through the winter then flowering in early summer before having a short dormancy in late summer[]. Consequently, it is only going to succeed outdoors in the very mildest parts of the country and is generally best grown in a greenhouse[, ].
Prefers a sunny position in a well-drained humus-rich neutral or slightly acidic loam[].
The plant comes from an area with intermittent and unreliable rainfall. It is therefore adapted to remaining dormant for a number of years if the growing conditions are unsuitable and this habit sometimes manifests itself in cultivation, especially if the plants have been potted up recently[].
A climbing plant, it supports itself by twisting its leaf stalks around other plants etc[].
The caterpillars of the cabbage white butterfly can be a nuisance and often cause considerable damage to the leaves[].

Edible Uses

Tubers - cooked[]. The tubers are quite small[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - sow early spring in a greenhouse. Prick the seedlings out into individual pots once they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant out in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.
Division of the tubers in late summer. Harvest the tubers once the plant has died down and plant them straight out into their permanent positions. It is probably best to pot up the smaller tubers and grow them on in the greenhouse for a year before planting them out in late summer.
Cuttings of basal stems in the spring[]. Pot them up into individual pots and place them in light shade in a frame until they are established. Plant out in early summer.