Hypericum forrestii and Tropaeolum speciosum

This eye catching combination of colour is a cross continent collusion. The shrubby support is Hypericum forrestii and the scrambler; Tropaeolum speciosum.

This combination would not occur without the help of plant collectors. The Hypericum was originally introduced by George Forrest in 1906 from South West China.

Tropaeolum speciosum is a native to Chile and often called the “Chilean Flame Flower”. Found growing in interior valleys and up to the timberline in south central regions of Chile and generally in humid areas where almost constant rainfall is experienced.

Hypericum forrestii and Tropaeolum speciosum

It loves the cooler moister climate of west coast gardens but does exceptionally well here. All the plants within the garden have the same accession number. At Logan it is a 1959 introduction. With the warmer winters we are now experiencing it sometimes does not die back to the white fleshy rhizome as it once did when in late autumn the weather deteriorated.