I posted about this plant on the Tropicals forum. Perhaps this is a better one. Many will say this is not a true vine. It doesn't climb with tendrils or twine. Instead, I imagine in the wild it might snake its way through other plants for support.

Here's a link to the other post (repeated at bottom):

http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/tropical/msg0200284623130.html

I bought a plant last year at the big Spring plant sale at the San Francisco Botanical Garden (aka Strybing Arboretum) labeled Calceolaria perfoliata. I've had it growing in a fairly shaded region in a 2 gallon pot. I understand that plants of this group normally bloom in the Fall, with huge (for a Calceolaria) yellow pouch flowers.

Here are links to descriptions/pictures of closely related species:

Calceolaria calycina (Annie's Annuals):

http://www.anniesannuals.com/plt_lst/lists/general/lst.gen.asp?prodid=2784

Calceolaria tomentosa (Ebay vendor Strange Wonderful Things):

http://www.strangewonderfulthings.com/158.htm
(link repeated at bottom)

Calceolaria pavonii (Roseland House, UK):

http://www.roselandhouse.co.uk/shrubs/calceolaria pavoni.htm

I have two main questions:

1) What do I change to get the plant to bloom?

2) I have two rooted cuttings, which I can send to good homes for trade or postage. I want to send them to people with the appropriate growing conditions. Cool summers and (nearly) frost-free is ideal, but it may be possible to work around this. Hot and humid will probably not work.

Here's a picture of a small part of the plant today. It's the one on the right. At the moment it's sharing a space with Passiflora membranacea (on the left). P. membranacea is about to get huge, so the arrangement may change...

Calceolaria perfoliata (right) and Passiflora membranacea (left)

Here are the rooted cuttings, started last Fall. I've potted them right now in containers that should ship for less than a pound. They really want to grow at this point. They are a bit floppy and brittle, and may be somewhat tricky to ship (but doable).

If you are interested in one of these please email me.

As I mentioned in the other post, I've been in communication with a European grower of one of the species. The conclusion was that the plant should bloom if planted in the ground.

Here is a link that might be useful: Tropicals forum post on this Calceolaria