Asarina (genus, trailing snapdragon)

Japanese name: アサリナ
Scientific name: Asarina

[Overview]
A climbing evergreen perennial, but because it is not very cold-hardy, it is treated mainly as an annual in Japan.
The thin vines grow several meters long and cling to other things with their leaf stalks and flower stalks.
The leaves are simple, opposite on the lower part of the stem and alternate on the upper part, triangular to halberd-shaped, with notches or serrations on the margin.
The flowers are borne in the leaf axils, and the flower color is blue, purple, pink, white, yellow and so on.
The corolla is funnel-shaped, with the tip divided into 5 lobes in two lips, and the base of the corolla tube is slightly swollen.
The fruit is a capsule.

[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed or by cuttings.
Some will overwinter in regions without frost.
It prefers a fertile, sunny, well-drained place and dislikes excessive moisture.
A place protected from strong afternoon sun in summer is more suitable.
Water thoroughly when the soil surface dries.
Fertilizer can be kept light; for plants in the ground, no more is needed if basal fertilizer is applied.
Once the vines begin to grow, train them onto stakes or netting.
There are no particular pests or diseases.

[Notes]
Plants from North America are now subdivided into the genera Holmgrenanthe, Lophospermum, Mabrya, Maurandya and Neogaerrhinum.
The one commonly grown in Japan is Tsuta-ba-kirikazura (Maurandya barclayana = Asarina barclayana).

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