Telosma Cordata is supposedly good for the eyes. So dad used to buy the fragrant blooms from the market.
That was how I first saw them; clusters of pale green buds and flowers in pastel yellow-peach shades destined for the dining table. It makes a great soup!
I had no idea what the plant looked like until my neighbour told me about hers. This climbed over the fence 6 metres above the ground where I was standing. She not only enlightened me about its habits but picked me some flowers as well. More soup! Yums!
I got a plant for myself but it didn’t last very long. Then my neighbour propagated and gave me another. That followed in the footsteps of the first plant. When she asked about its progress, I had to admit that it was long gone.
She passed me a few cuttings, assuring me that they were not difficult to grow. By this time I was a bit of a skeptic but …, they actually rooted!
Then, after some long months of ‘dormancy’, I moved them out into full sun and planted them into a big pot.
I thought it’d continue to grow at the same sluggish pace but it proved me wrong. Then one day as I was about to prune the neighbouring plant, I realized that the telosma cordata has twined itself all over the former. And it was blooming too!
I replaced its small support with a bigger trellis, but I know it’ll soon outgrow the latter as well. I’m tempted to just let it ramble all over the fence. Maybe then I may have enough flowers for a telosma cordata stir-fry as well.
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Care and propagation: full sun, well drained, fertile soil, water generously. Propagate using soft wood cuttings or seeds (mine fruited but alas, the vine dried before the seeds reached maturity)
Hi TG…i remember eating them as a fragrant ‘kerabu’..errr many many years back…when i was much much younger…but i can’t remember whether my late mother made d ‘kerabu’ …or it was a gift from a neighbour..most probably the latter…. .watz certain is that i dunno how to make it…only kno how to eat laa…but soup…?? That i’ve never tasted….do u have a recipe ??…wud really..really love to try….my plant…err itz quite n invasive plant…has just finished blooming..but i think there r new buds on it….really look 4ward to your soup recipe…
hi norhaini. just use ikan bilis stock and add the flowers at the end. one of my friends had it as a stir-fry in bangkok. i hope mine becomes invasive like yours. sounds super!
Lovely! The Chinese name of Telosma Cordata is 夜来香, also the title of popular 1940s Chinese song.
unfortunately i can’t read chinese. can you translate that, alfredo? thanks so much.
夜来香 = night fragrance:) Your garden must have turned into an instant perfumery at night? 🙂
i guess so, but i never go to that part of the garden after dark. it is wonderful at other parts of the day as well but yes, it’s probably a lot stronger at night.
Hi TG,
I am looking for this plant but I could not find it here. Where are you?America or Australia or UK? I am in Australia. I would like to have this one to grow in my backyard. Thank you.
Loan
hi loan dang. i’m in malaysia. let me ask around for a source for you. in the meantime, someone in australia seems to have germinated a couple of seeds. have a look at this: http://www.daleysfruit.com.au/forum/exotic-vines/
Hi there TG,
I just came across this thread and was wondering whether you have been able to find a source of Telosma cordata for Long Dang yet? I would very much like to acquire it for my garden too! Seed would really be the only feasible way to get it into South Africa. Seeing as how your plant has never produced seed before, perhaps you could attempt to pollinate it? 😉
Awaiting your response with baited breath!
All the best!
Chlorophyljunky
afraid not, Chlorophyljunky. will continue to ask around. yes, i should try pollinating it, right? 🙂 all the best in your hunt.
very use full blog.I am also a a garden junkie
I ate these when I was young!!!!
so did i. loved them then and still do. 🙂
Hi typicalgardener
I have been looking for this plant for a long long time. I stay in Section 19, Petaling Jaya. How am I to get this plant? Can I buy the seeds from you ? The cutting may not last via postal mail/courire. Or can I buy the plant from you?
hi almow. you can buy it from sg buloh – not too far away. mine has never set seeds before, unfortunately.
Hi Typicalgardener
Thank you very much for your advice.
When you refer to Sungai Buluh, are you referring to the place actually in the Leprosy Centre or those stalls that lie along the whole “highway” Jalan Sungai Buluh? Which one is easily available?
in the old leprosy centre. no guarantees but there’s always a good chance that someone may have it there.
Thanks!
can it live through winter with snow, i eat and i like it alot, but im going to move to Minnesota America so im not sure i can grow them there. you have any ideas?
I just learned of this flower from a reader of my blog. Sounds like a wonderful plant with fantastic perfumed flowers! I wanna try to grow it too.
Is there any possibility of finding this plant or seeds in Europe? I live in Spain.
Thank you
Hi all,
I have been looking this plant for long time please let me know how I can get one. I live in Sydney.
Van. P
Wow prettiest soup i’ve ever seen!
Thanks, Anton
If this is called “Night Fragrance” in Chinese, than do the Chinese have a different name for Night Blooming Jasmine (Lady-of-the-night, Cestrum nocturnum) ?
I’ve no idea, Roger. Maybe someone else can help?