The Chilean glory flower is producing early flower on the Systematic Beds.
The family Bignoniaceae contains approximately 80 genera and over 800 species of trees, shrubs, climbers and herbaceous perennials. Most members of the family originate from South America, but there are also North American and Asian species. Members of the family are characterised by their fused, two-lipped flowers, and their fruit capsules which contain wind dispersed seed. Eccremocarpus scaber is a climbing species from Peru, Chile and Argentina. It is generally regarded as a tender perennial, and is often treated as an annual in our gardens. Here it has displayed an evergreen habit, overwintering in recent mild winters. E. scaber has tubular flowers varying in colour from pure yellow, to orange and deep red, and the delicate bipinnate leaves have a terminal tendril, which help the plant climb.