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 place (min -8c) 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 colour 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