Lapageria rosea 'Concon' (Cone-Cone)

New in 2009 to my collection this is another good red similar to Mission Lace. 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.
'Concon' is named after the town in Chile where A Montenegro stayed while collecting many of the plants in his collection.

'Concon' was named by Carlos Rendon. It is a large sized deep-red, good texture, some white spotting, and prodigious bloomer. Alex Montenegro acquired it from a parish priest who had a collection of Lapageria growing it in the church garden in Concón, a coastal town just north of Valparisio, Chile

My plant came from Berkeley Botanic garden in California, and I am grateful to them for the use of the picture below