Plant of the week: Tropaeolum speciosum
This is a real beauty, although a lot of people seem scared to try it.
Tropaeolum speciosum, aka the flame flower, produces scrambling annual stems which, in late summer and early autumn, are covered in stunning 2.5cm (1in) flame-red flowers like airy nasturtiums. It's sometimes difficult to establish if plants have been allowed to dry out slightly, but once it gets going – and growing – it will spread by underground stems to form large, deep-rooting tubers. Grow it in full sun and divide established plants next month or in March. Treat it as a half-hardy and you shouldn't go far wrong.