Lapageria season

[charlie]

Some have been flowering for a while but these have only just started
lapageria toqui 012 by charliepridham, on Flickr
One of the California imports ex Chile
And below some seedlings from my own seed, nothing to exciting but its always good to see the first flowers!
lapageria seedling 008 by charliepridham, on Flickr

lapageria seedling 009 by charliepridham, on Flickr

This last has very long flowers
lapageria seedling 010 by charliepridham, on Flickr

[charlie]

Things starting to hot up now
lapageria tierra del fuego157 by charliepridham, on Flickr

lapageria hugletts blush 156 by charliepridham, on Flickr

[LONGK]

I am seriously considering parting with some cash next year!

What do they need to do well in the UK?

[charlie]

They take damage at -6 to -7c so somewhere a bit sheltered/protected is best but avoiding hot sun. soil wise a woodland texture and low ph is best but they will cope with neutral. outside the main problem is the leaves get shredded by small snails living aloft but the flower colour and size is often better.
If you have an open porch or veranda these make good locations bearing in mind most of the growth and flowering happens in winter

[charlie]

lapageria ongol by charliepridham, on Flickr

Ongol is one of the varieties I brought back from California in 2009, its taken the plant until now to be strong enough to flower!