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Chilean Bellflowers
 Lapageria rosea
Lapageria is one of the most beautiful of all climbing plants with its long 80mm bell shaped waxy flowers. A climber in full flower becomes smothered with the substantial blooms.
When I first began in Horticulture well over 30 years ago Lapagerias were considered by gardening enthusiasts to be “The piece de Resistance” to have growing in the garden. If you could flower one than you were considered to have “Green” fingers. Young plants were sold in small pots and they always looked on the scrawny side. When attempting to sell one I always showed the buyer a photo of a flowering plant otherwise we would not have sold any of them. Purchasers left with their meager looking puchase and with the faith and hope that one day their plant would look like the one in the photo.
By planting the Lapageria in the right position you will be guaranteed to have a most gorgeous small growing climber.
Lapagerias need their roots in a cool, deeply worked ,free draining soil that doesn’t dry out. An easterly position where they get the morning sun but not the afternoon sun suits them perfectly. Grow against a wall or fence to give protection from heavy frosts. Lapagerias tolerate high humidity and heat but the roots must be kept cool. Never Lime Lapaerias.
Although slow to establish mature Lapagerias will grow fairly quickly, sending their strong twining shoots up looking for hand holds. Their dark green leathery leaves grow fairly flat so make it ideal where a climber is required in a narrow space.
Lapageria rosea is the usual variety planted. The rosy crimson flowers are usually flecked with white. Established plants are smothered with the clusters of pendulous flowers through summer. L.rosea var albiflora
The white flowered variety Lapageria rosea var albiflora has pure white flowers against a background of paler leaves. This variety is less robust then the coloured forms.
Less common are Nash Pink- pink flowers with darker coloured flecks and Flesh pink –palest pink flowers.
 Lapageria alba
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