Chile

We have long sold the iconic Chilean fire tree but are delighted to finally offer some of wild origin, thanks Cody! The reasons for this are twofold, one we always prefer wild-origin material due to its usefulness to botany, science, and conservation but also because we have observed a fair bit of variation in the Embothrium we have seen in Chile. That same variation is rare or non-existent in cultivation so we hope to begin remedying that, with your help of course! This collection hails from near the town of Valdivia, which shares its name with the incredible Valdivian rainforest ecosystem, and is distinguished by being unusually narrow leaved.

Being in the Proteaceae, they don't enjoy phosphorous so be careful what you fertilize them with - it is the P in the NPK ratio to which they are allergic

Amazing Chilean Lobelia that is perfectly hardy here if you mulch it during nasty cold snaps. This is one of those perennials that when you see it grown well and you aren't familiar with it, has an almost concussive visual impact. Even when you do know it well, it still seems like a freak of nature it is so beautiful. This gets multiple stalks to 7' high with spires of tubular red flowers for 6-8 weeks which beckon hummingbirds from afar. Highly dramatic and surprisingly easy given good drainage. This grows in sandy areas in Chile so drainage is key. These are from wild seed collected by FRBC board member and botanist Cody Hinchliff. We preserve the cf. here only because we haven't yet flowered this collection but are fairly sure it's tupa. 

This is the hardiest of the Eucryphia species and it has gone through some seriously bad times here and bore all with affable equanimity. These are cutting-grown from a plant we salvaged from Leo Hitchcock's Seattle garden. A deciduous species with trifoliate green leaves and surprisingly large showy white flowers in latter summer. Very Choice.