This garlic vine can be found at various parts of HortPark e.g. at Floral Walk and Car Park Garden. It's botanical name is Mansoa hymenaea or Pseudocalymma alliaceum.
When not in bloom, the plant just looks green but when you crush the leaves, they emit a garlic smell, hence the common name.
I love this plant because the newly bloomed flowers are just so eye catching. At any one time, you will see the abundant flowers in various shades of purple, and this makes the plant more interesting than those with monotonous flowers.
From experience, this plant flowers about 3-4 times a year and at times, their spectacular blooms cover the entire plant. The only thing I do not like about this plant is when the flowers fade, they take on a drabby dull colour.
I am now trying to grow it on a vertical wall to see how high it can reach. Thus far, it has grown about 5-6 m already although there are no flowers yet. Nevertheless, it is still impressive!
The photos were taken on 7 Dec 09.
