South America

Extremely rare tree in the Rosaceae from the Andes. John Grimshaw and Ross Bayton authored a fantastic book in 2010 "New Trees: Recent Introductions to Cultivation" in which the genus Polylepis was described sparingly as only one species, P. australis is grown and that to a very limited extent. The text discussed how more species need to be trialed as they have fantastic bark like the best Acer griseum and some species come from very high elevation and may have potential for hardiness in areas such as the West Coast and surely milder parts of the UK. Shortly after reading this we learned of a seed collecting expedition to the Andes and asked that they look for Polylepis for us and here is one of the results.

These are cutting-grown and will need to be protected from cold their first winter for sure. Excellent foliage which has been evergreen for us with superb sinuous trunk and branching structure which are thickly papered in sheets of exfoliating bark. Flowers are nothing - little colorless bits of dangling insignificance. We sound a little bitter because we have not quite gotten over our disappointment at the first flowering of our parent trees thinking that Rose Family would equate to a flower of some merit, but we had failed to closely read the botanical description referring to the "apetalous flowers" which means no petals. But really, flowers on a tree of this extraordinary character would be like putting whipped cream on your ice cream in which two excellent individual components are diminished in synergy. We think Zone 8 for this and careful siting in colder portions of this zone.

One of those plants that turns you to jelly when you see it blooming. We saw this grown to perfection at the Charlton-Sale garden in North Vancouver BC where it had grown over a stump in the woodland and crept over to the fissured bark of a nearby Douglas fir and was creeping up the furrows with over-sized red-pink trumpets of flowers which left us stricken dumb in the wilderness. Fortunately it was right on the path and we could see the house and Charlie was nearby, so we were able to stumble along muttering "Asteranthera - must have Asteranthera" in relative safety until our wits returned. Now we are haunted by what other treasures we might have missed along the way while we were blinded by beauty. This Chilean and Argentinian gesneriad demands a cool, humid, acidic, moist, somewhat shaded and relatively mild situation to thrive. If you have these conditions, then this an automatic add to cart. A small-leafed evergreen groundcover which will climb tightly appressed over or up boulders or logs. Given time and proper conditions, it will climb up tree trunks or shaded brick walls to 10' or bit more and leave you steeped in wonder when it flowers..

This is not a Fuchsia to which one can remain indifferent. A tender species from South America, this is a winter-bloomer with long, thin flowers appearing at leaf fall and then adorning the 3'-5' bare stems. The distinctly softly lavender-pink flowers lack an inner corolla presenting a very pleasing minimalist design aesthetic and the large orange fruit which follow are an unexpectedly discordant delight. We're not sure how this species came by its name but it will totally rule your greenhouse in winter. Here in the PNW, flowering is punctuated by ongoing street fights among factions of overwintering Anna's hummingbirds vying for control. Viva la revolucion!

High elevation Bolivian evergreen pinnate-leaved tree in the Rose family whose gorgeous irregular shape and exceptional exfoliating bark gives us fever dreams. Flowers are apetalous nothings but given its abundance of attributes, expecting showy petals is akin to disappointment in the physical shortcomings of the Duke in The Bridgertons. The Polylepis species we have observed in adjoining Argentina basically grew in rock with roots reaching down to moist soil so best in a lean, mineral-based soil that drains well. Small plants that will grow quickly. The collector speculated Z6b hardiness but ours has only gone to 10F with no damage

One odd little plant from the Andes possessing neither flamboyance of flower, nor headiness of perfume, nevertheless, it's pretty damned cool. We've never noticed it blooming, the flowers being so small but the resultant edible but insipid white fruit are attractive as is the foliage and habit. Great in the rock garden.