Ipomoea cairica

They certainly are....you'd never guess that it's an Ipomoea!

 

Seed leaves were normal "Y-shape" for an Ipomoea

 

I grew a couple of plants last year.
I found it a bit disappointing in that I only got a few flowers late summer, even in the greenhouse.

 

Nice though. It's temperamental. I've done Ok with it once or twice.

 

I tried quamoclit but couldn't get any seeds to germinate - so will be interested how it turns out. But Pete's comment suggests I may not be missing too much. Though I am surprised it did so badly in a greenhouse.

 

I prefer Spanish Flag, Ipomoea lobata. I find that pretty easy and it makes a good show, better than I quamoclit.

 

I'm growing them too (didn't get very good germination off them either ...) so, assuming I can get any of them to survive to adulthood!, I'll make a comparison and keep some seed to improve my chances next year.

I've seen folk singing Mina lobata's praises before, bought seed but not got around to sowing it in previous seasons (i.e. whatever the equivalent of eyes-bigger-than-stomach syndrome, in seed-sowing, is?!!)

 

I grew Mina lobata from seed last year and was not overwhelmed. However it started life in the very cold period - so more heat might make a big difference.

 

I wouldn't bother even sowing for a week or two yet. Why make them shiver in an uncertain English April? Prevent cruelty to plants, I say!
They grow like mad once they start as long as it's warm enough.

 

@PeterS Never take my comments as the beginning and end Peter, I just add them as my experience, you need to try them yourself in your garden room.
The foliage in itself could make them worth growing.

 

Strangely, I was massively underwhelmed at the performance of lobata the few years that I tried it.

 

This is I. carnea from last year. Easy to germinate and made a change from the climbers, but not many flowers for the size of the plant, and didn't make it through even this exceptionally mild winter...

 

Gorgeous, but if it didn't really like it in Aquitaine I don't think it'll approve of the East Mids!

 

It could have been bad storage, @Madahhlia....I think the pot it was in was under a leak in the plastic greenhouse roof Maybe kept dry it is hardier, but it didn't set seed either, so I'll never know