Lapageria rosea
Ina (Fri, 17 Sep 2010 10:42:47 PDT)

Hello James

I grew one here in Auckland against a wooden slatted fence and yes, it
was absolutely gorgeous.

It took over, I couldn't believe it. Threw up suckers and came up all
over the place. As there are neighbours on the other side of the fence,
couldn't have that.

Not only that, but I was thinking of a climber on the fence, not a
forest taking over the nearby trees etc. When it became a battle to get
even near it, pruned it right back and sold the roots to someone from
Trademe. Who kindly dug them up for me, and I tell you, there were a
lot of roots to dig up!

So if it is happy, it can become a menace. I wonder how it grows in
Chili.... After all, it is their national flower.

And yes, their roots are just thickened and almost impossible to cut!

Ina Crossley Auckland, New Zealand where we had the most atrocious
weather last night, with guess what, more rain and more rain.