I just love this plant!  Agapetes 'Ludgvan Cross' is an unusual rarity in the Blueberry family with gorgeous, pendant blooms that look like little Chinese lanterns.  Nearly all year, these exotic flowers cover the plant by the hundreds, creating quite a show.  This plant is extremely rare in the United States, so if you like what you see, keep reading!

Agapetes 'Ludgvan Cross' is a hybrid between Agapetes serpens and A. rugosa, both from the cool Himalayas.  The plant grows to about 4 feet tall and wide, with gorgeous arching, evergreen branches.  It flowers practically all year for me.  The 1½" blooms have a fascinating chevron pattern of red or burgundy stripes on a pale background, which fades to white at the tips.  This is a vigorous hybrid with more flowers and a longer blooming season than its parent plant, Agapetes serpens. 

The parent plant, Agapetes serpens

Agapetes (pronounced "Ag-uh-PET-eez") comes from foothills of the Himalayas where the temperature ranges from about 32°F to the low 80s, and nights are cool.  It has similar requirements as its cousin, Rhododendron, although i don't know its cold-hardiness.  I also don't know if it will thrive in hotter areas, particularly if nights are warm.  It probably can survive a few degrees of frost, but it grows best above 40 degrees.  It does well in a pot or hanging planter.  It looks terrific when placed at eye-level, where people can admire the blooms up close!  It does best in bright conditions, with some shade from strong afternoon sun.  You can grow it indoors, provided that the air isn't too dry.  In the right conditions, it's an easy plant to grow.

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