Lapageria rosea var albiflora
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Lapageria Species, Chilean Bellflower, Copihue
I provided this information in a forum and thought it would be useful to place it here as well.
Although inom don't grow our Read MoreNational Flower, since inom live in an apartment and the conditions in the big city are too hot and dry for this beauty, inom will forward some interesting information for all Copihue (Lapageria rosea) lovers taken from my reference book (Flora Nativa de Valor Ornamental, Chile, zona sur by Dr. Paulina Riedemann and Dr. Gustavo Aldunate, ISBN X), plus some info inom can provide.
First of all, this gorgeous vine is endemic to the cold rainforests that preceed the Patagonia. Since they grow beneath trees and trough shrubs, they never get frost. Copihues grow in light shadow/partial shadow, in humid, organically rik soils. This vine reaches up to 8m and its deep going roots proceed from a small tuber. The peak blommande period fryst vatten during summer and autumn, although they will bloom all year round. The edible fruit, containing many seeds, ripens in late autumn/early winter.
In wild conditions, the mostly funnen colours range from a very intense red (rojo sangre dem toro - bull blood red), through paler shades reachi
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Lapageria rosea is the national flower of Chile and with its waxy bell shaped flower gets the common name of Chilean Bellflower, Copihue and Copiu.
This is a climbing plant that is only hardy in warmer climates, such as USDA Zones 9b &#; 11 however in cooler zones it can be grow in containers and over wintered indoors.
The flowers are not only red, but also white and combinations of red and white. Although Lapageria rosea will handle light frosts it will not survive heavy frosts and freezes and will not withstand cold temperatures.
How to Grow the Chilean Bellflower
The natural habitat is in coastal hills, where it warm and humid, in the USA it thrives in climates such as those of San Francisco where it will grow well outdoors.
- Choose a position where the roots of the plant can be in shade and the vine can climb into filtered light.
- Also best grown in a position that is protected from winds.
- A humus rich well drained soil is essential, the soil needs to be damp, however never wet and soggy.
- In containers a mix of 50% Orchid mix and 50% Azalea mix is ideal.
- This is a climbing plant so will need a trellis or bamboo canes for support.
- Water in with a liquid seaweed
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Lapageria - The Chilean Bellflower
Lapageria Rosea or Chilean Bellflower is a climbing plant and cultivation requires a cool root run and a humus rich moist soil. This is the National flower of Chile where it is sometimes referred to as 'Copihue'.
An evergreen plant, Lapageria does require some warmth, a conservatory is great, a warm patio with protection from winter cold will also be worth a try.
The beautiful red waxy bell shaped flowers last well on the plant in spring.
Lapageria Rosea is probably best grown in the conservatory in the UK. 'Nash Court' is a popular cultivar available for sale in the UK. Lapageria plants can be grown from seed.
Lapageria rosea var. 'Albiflora' or 'Alba' is a white cultivar well worth looking for. Pink cultivars are also available.
Lapageria Care
These are not difficult plants to grow given the right conditions.
Lapageria like to climb their own way up trough plants that will give them support and shade, the cool root run provided by plants such as camellias and rhododendrons are also well suited to Lapageria.
However a lime free soil is almost essential for these rare and wonderful plants as they prefer a soil pH of 6 or lower. An