Lardizabala biternata Ruiz & Pav.

Horticultural & Botanical History

Introduced to Veitch’s Nursery by William Lobb and first flowered there in 1849.  ‘A climbing, copiously-leaved, evergreen shrub, native of Chili, and growing as far south as Concepcion, whence it was naturally supposed to be hardy, and experience has proved the correctness of this opinion, for it has braved the winter of 1849-50 without any covering or protection, other than that afforded by a wall, both at Exeter and at Kew.  George Thomas Davy, Esq., who has the credit of introducing this plant by sending it to Messrs. Veitch of Exeter, writes to them thus:- “When I first saw it in the Province of Concepcion, I was so much struck with the singularly dark colour of the flowers, and the beauty of the foliage, that I gave instructions to have a root sent to me at Valparaiso, which was done; and it is the plant now in your possession.  The fruit is sold in the Chilian markets.”  According to Decaisne, cordage is made of the tough fibre.  The plant above alluded to was brought home from Valparaiso by Mr. Wm. Lobb, and was in full flower in Mr. Veitch’s Nursery in December, 1849: and to Mr. Veitch we are indebted for the specimen figured in the annexed plate.’  [BM t.4501/1850].

History at Camden Park

Listed only in the 1857 catalogue [T.627/1857].

Notes