PlantFiles: Chilean Bellflower
Lapageria rosea

This woody climber originated in the rain forests of Chile (where it is their national flower) where it prefers its roots in shade and then it climbs up into the sunlight to flower in summer all the way thru to winter. It can grow up to 15 feet under cultivation and even higher in the wild. The flowers which are thick and waxy, hang down like 3 to 4 inch bells. They have 6 petals, 3 outer and 3 inner that form the bell shape. They prefer a slightly acid soil with regular watering. The temperate weather of the California coastal areas and Bay Area of California allow this subtropical vine to flourish.

I have had no problem growing several in the California Bay Area outside even when we have had uncharacteristically cold weather in the winter of 2006 which went down to 24 degrees periodically over a 2 week period.

I provided this information in a forum and thought it would be useful to place it here as well.

Although I don't grow our National Flower, since I live in an apartment and the conditions in the big city are too hot and dry for this beauty, I 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 956-13-1827-X), plus some info I can provide.

First of all, this gorgeous vine is endemic to the cold rainforests that preceed the Patagonia. Since they grow under trees and trough shrubs, they never get frost. Copihues grow in light shadow/partial shadow, in humid, organically rich soils. This vine reaches up to 8m and its deep going roots proceed from a small tuber. The peak blooming period is 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 found colours range from a very intense red (rojo sangre de toro - bull blood red), through paler shades reaching pink and on rare occasions immaculate white. Some are white and have a red/magenta/pink border, others have spots of paler or darker colours.

I was once given cut flowers from a very renowned hybridizer in the Nahuelbuta cordillera, that was a beautiful salmon colour. Unfortunately this Hybridizer passed and none of his descendants continue his passion/hobby.

Copihues grow very slowly during their first year from seeds, producing just one leaf but deep going roots. On the second year they show their first growth, followed by another one during the third year. Copihues start blooming between the third and 4th year if grown from seeds.

This plant, like Clematis, likes to have the roots in light shade/shade and the growth in light shade/partial shade. It will grow in soils ranging from neutral to acidic, very rich in organic material.

Plant your Copihue under a tree that has not too dense foliage (remember, their habit is similar to Clematis). Keep them moist but not wet. One characteristic of our soils in Chile is that the usually have very good drainage.

Propagation from seeds: during autumn. First wrapp the whole fruit in humid newspaper and place them in the vegetable/fruit compartment of the refrigerator at 4°C (38°F) for at least a month. After that period, part the fruit and extract the seeds to plant them in a deep tray (remember the root grows deep down) in a mix of 2 portions of compost, 2 portions of acidic soil, one portion sharp river sand and one portion peat moss to retain humidity. Whilst the root is already developing, you will only find the first true leaf in spring. Do not transplant before the plantil is one year old and has shown its first growth. If you have only a few seeds and not the whole fruit (looks similar to a Passion fruit), wrap them in humid newspaper and place them inside a glass with a lid before putting them in the refrigerator.

Copihues can also be propagated by multiple layers. In such case, place a layer, with slight scratches on which you apply rooting hormones in a separate pot. This method will take one year before producing roots.

Copihues can be planted in big containers that can be moved to protect the plant from frost which they will not tolerate - plant will die after a few frosts.

Since the natural habitat of this gorgeous plant is in an area where the Andes Mountains have decreased their height considerably, nature (birdies?) has allowed them to grow in Argentina as well.

This is reputedly "the world's most beautiful flower". There are several colours available and Lapageria alba is the name given to the white variety to my understanding. This plant took me YEARS to track down and I have been propogating them fairly well here in southern California as well as San Francisco.

Truly, the foilage is quite delicate and lovely and the flowers ARE amazing and very striking. On some of the non-solid colours there is a bit of almost a herring-bone design in white and red if you look very closely at the petals. It has no noticable fragrance which bums me out severely but will fruit and I understand they eat this fruit in Chile where this is the national flower. The flower comes in solid red, red/white checkered, solid pink, white with bright red rimming the petals, solid white and I am sure other types I have not yet seen.

It like well-drained soil, lots of moisture, and an acid-loving feed. I grow mine organically so this consists of composted wood and chicken poop.

This plant is notoriously difficult to propogate in most US areas, hence the difficulty in obtaining them and the high price when they are offered. Growing from cuttings is possible and seed growing is done as well but is a bit tricky. I have seedling plants but also grow from cuttings. The plants take several years to flower from seed but are WORTH IT! (even if they DON'T smell...)

Does poorly in hot, full sun and if underwatered.

Hope this helps out.

-ellie

Well, so far with my limited experience, the three small plants that I acquired are thriving. I received them just before the heat of summer, so I was concerned. One plant has already bloomed and another plant has just started to set a bud. Both of these plants have sent up new stems. I planted all three plants into very large clay pots and water them every other day. They are in a fairly heavy shaded area. They should do fine over the winter here in San Diego. I'm just surprised that their vigor held up so well during the heat of summer.

-Ron-

Excellent container plant

My outdoor plant was stem hardy to 17 degrees F and was root hardy with mulch protection to 12 degrees F last winter. So far this winter season the plant has survived to 10 degress F with some leaf damage.

Prefers cool, rich, moist yet well-drained soil and shade in summer. New growth usually starts in winter inside a cool greenhouse (night temperatures in the 40’s)

Flowers can change colour from one year to the next depending on nutrients and temperatures at the time of flowering.

Slugs are a problem especially on young tender growth.

Evergreen, woody climber from Chile.

Has ovate, dark green leaves upto 5 inches long. Bears drooping bells of pink-red flowers.

Flowers June-October.

Likes a constantly moist but well drained, acid to neutral, humus rich soil in partial shade.

Is hardy down to 25F and appreciates some shelter from cold wind.

Can be grown indoors but is prone to more pest attack.