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Strange Wonderful Things Rare and exotic plants |
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This is a rare look at the beautiful Lopezia grandiflora from mountain forests in Guatemala and neighboring Mexico. This unusual Fuchsia relative puts on a dramatic show of blossoms that attract hummingbirds. My camera has a hard time capturing their color, but they are a glowing reddish-pink that is super beautiful. This is a choice collector's plant that is almost never seen in cultivation or for sale. I don't know anyone else offering it. Lopezia grandiflora is a small bush that grows about 5 feet tall and wide, although you can prune it shorter if necessary. It has attractive leaves with an oily sheen that are about 6 inches long. It flowers in fall or winter here in San Francisco, although it might bloom other times too if grown indoors, which i haven't tried. The inch-long blossoms are shaped sort of like a sideways Fuchsia flower, and appear in big clusters and the ends of the branches. As an nice surprise, they are tipped with blue pollen! Since it's so rare, i have no information on its temperature tolerances. Based on where it originates, i suspect it can handle warm conditions if nights are cool, but consider it experimental in hot conditions with warm nights. It can grow back from its tubers, so it probably can survive a light frost, but i recommend keeping it from freezing. In the right conditions, it is vigorous and easy to grow. It enjoys part sun, and may need some afternoon shade in warmer conditions. It grows well in a pot in a well-draining soil mix that's kept evenly moist. Over about 40% humidity is a good idea.
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