Lapageria rosea 'Quelipichum'(k-lee-PEE-choom)

New in my collection in 2007, this plant has a double row of red petals (9 instead of 6). Like  all Lapageria it 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.

'Quelipichum' came into the El Vergel nursery from the Tumbes farm near Talcahuano, Chile then owned by the Sweet family who had collected it, thence to Berkeley Botanic Garden from where I got my plant I am grateful to them for the picture . It has proved to be one of the trickier Lapageria to grow and has never put on a lot of growth but it is still hanging in there.