Vigna caracalla

Vigna caracalla
The curled flowers of V. caracalla
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Rosids
Order:	Fabales
Family:	Fabaceae
Subfamily:	Faboideae
Tribe:	Phaseoleae
Genus:	Vigna
Species:	V. caracalla
Binomial name
Vigna caracalla (L.) Verdc.
Synonyms
Phaseolus caracalla

Vigna caracalla is leguminous vine from the family Fabaceae, originating in tropical South America and Central America. The species is named caracalla, meaning that it comes from Caracas in Venezuela.

That this perennial vine has fragrant flowers is a common misconception (though there may be hybrid varieties as such) - said to be reminiscent of hyacinths - with a distinctive curled shape, giving rise to the common names corkscrew vine, snail vine, snail creeper, or snail bean.

Corkscrew vine seedpods

This vine is hardy in zones 9 and above, liking full sun and consistently damp soil. It prefers high heat and humidity and can become invasive if these conditions are met. In lower (colder) zones, it does well in a pot if it is overwintered inside.

Some data indicates some edible properties to this plant - specifically the flowers - but this should be verified from a reputable source before attempting.