Lapageria
rosea 'Caupolican'
New in 2008 to my collection this has
deep red flowers. Like all Lapageria needs cool moist
acid soil in shade, absolutely hates direct sun for any length of time, although
the top of the plant will be happy if the lower part is shaded. The flowers are waxy bells
and it is in flower from
July through to March. Due to its flowering period and the fact
that new growth can be frost damaged it needs a sheltered wall (min
-4c) or grow it down the shady end of the conservatory.
'Caupolican' is the named after the 16th century Mapuche Indian chief who lead
Indian resistance to the Spanish invaders in Chile, it is also known in Spanish
as "Piedras Preciosa" or Precious Stones, My plant came from Berkeley Botanic
garden in California, and I am grateful to them for the use of the picture below
The species comes from Chile; the majority of wild plants have cherry
red flowers with occasional pale pinks and whites. Introduced
around 1847.
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