Lapageria
rosea 'Cobquecura' (cop-k-COO-rah)
New in 2008 to my collection this has light
salmon pink flowers with deeper salmon flushes. 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.
The species comes from Chile; the majority of wild plants have cherry
red flowers with occasional pale pinks and whites. Introduced
around 1847.
'Cobquecura' is the name of a town in coastal Chile
100 km north of Concepcion and is also known as "Bread of Stone" or Pan de
Piedra
in Spanish. It is a vigorous grower.
In 1929 horticulturist Elbert Reed purchased this plant and other color forms
from the Larenas family living in Cobquecura , Chile and brought it back to El
Vergel. Larenas family members had started collecting Lapageria from the wild
well before 1880.
My plants came from Berkeley Botanic
garden in California, and I am grateful to them for the use of the picture below
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