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The "Copihue" or Chilean Bellflower,
Lapageria rosea
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The Purpose of this Website
This website is devoted to the Copihue (the Araucanian name for Lapageria rosea), the national flower of Chile. I've only been growing Lapagerias for about 20-odd years, but I've benefited from great advice given by some masters of their cultivation. I'm really a rank beginner compared to these folks; this website is more a forum for sharing information with the world at large, my attempt to bring together resources which will encourage cultivation of this beautiful (and at times difficult) plant. Two of my best resources contacted me via this site, so it serves the two-fold purpose of both receiving and dispersing information. I think of it as a clearinghouse. I hope you find it entertaining and informative.
I have received numerous reports of failure of seed germination, and I believe this is in large part due to the fact that most seed sold is too old and the germination information provided is usually vague (at best) or incorrect. Unfortunately I didn't pollinate my plants last year, so I have no seeds available at the moment.
Late last year I shifted all of my specimen plants into the ground, hoping that this would alleviate ongoing losses due to root rot. Although the situation has stablized somewhat, I'm still not "in the clear."
I have recently received a few e-mails from people who received seed from me in the past and who now have blooming plants. This is extremely gratiftying, and I feel I've accomplished something if I've been able to assist others cultivating this intriguing plant.
October 2, 2004
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A Little About The Copihue
"There is no question whatever...that the copihue is considered the most beautiful flower in our Flora. The intense red of its hanging flowers sparkle amid the dark leaves of the forests, making a proud adornment to our woods; it is for this reason that it has been given the honour of being our national flower. The Latin description of the flower is penduli, formosissimi: corolla rosea, alquando roseo-puniceo, intus punctis albis, maculata.
The flowers are sold in autumn in branches backed with fern leaves, in the resorts of the south and taken to markets of the principal cities (of Chile). This lovely flower makes quite a profitable income for innumerable small peasant communities.
The fruits, sweet and tender, are called 'cucumbers,' are edible and have a most agreeable flavour; they are sold in great quantities in towns in the south. The roots are used as a substitute for sarsaparilla (Smilax sarsaprilla); unfortunately this habit is already beginning to endanger the species.In the hot houses of Europe the lapageria has been known since the last century without having reached any significant importance in those countries."
Flora Peruviana et Chilensis
Hippoloyto Ruiz
& Josepho Pavon, 1802
Click below to learn about
Obtaining Lapagerias - (UPDATED 10/3/04)
If don't hear back from me, send an e-mail directly to lapageria@aol.com or noel@lapageria.com rather than from this link. For some reason I sometimes don't get e-mails which are sent from the site. I always return e-mails, so if you don't hear back, it probably means I didn't get your e-mail.
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