Here is an internet photo from a design site. I like the plant. Is it some sort of begonia? If anyone would know you guys would!

Medinilla magnifica
Pink Lantern (Medinilla magnifica)

It really is a neat-looking plant...

A shade plant?! gasp! MUST HAVE!!!

I would give anything to get my hands on one.

Me too, one of the "9 plants of desire," though I wanted one before reading that book. Look at how pretty and unusual those flowers are!!

It may be more "within reach" than you think.
The Home Depots in Minnesota had them in the houseplant department this past summer.

Cool!

I also saw some at a local gardening center last year in the houseplants section. However, they were pretty pricey.

They are beautiful! One the size in the picture would run about $50. here. There is a nursery about an hour from me that I will be going to this weekend that usually has them. They sell them in 4 in pots and they are usually about 10-12 in high. If anyone is interested, let me know. They are usually $12-15 I think, plus there would be postage. I have one similiar to the one in the picture and it it just starting to bloom.

hey"? has one of you bid against me for this plant on EBay? ? ?

Oh, yuck! I hate trying to bid on stuff on ebay. Good luck with bidding on that lovely plant! Hope you're successful getting it; it is really amazingly beautiful! Just a suggestion; if you're not successful, you might consider contacting the seller and seeing if they'd be willing to list it as a "buy it now" item at the winning bid price. Bet they've got more than one!

You're right, woofie. It looks like the seller might have more then one plant. I am also bidding on a vireya rhododendron, a tropical variety. I save shipping when you buy two items. It is also and excuse to buy two items. Like, I need an excuse?

I lost the bid. I put it up a couple bucks higher than I wanted to pay but I really like the plant. The bidder had a proxy on it and won. I was sad.
4 is my lucky number. I always put a "4'" in my Ebay bids somewhere. I couldn't figure out why it didn't work this time? Then a few moments after I emailed the seller, Second Chance Buy It Now popped up in my email!! I bought it for my highest bid, lower than the winning price~. I feel good about it.

Oh that is great!!! I was hoping that would happen! Congratulations!

Now I have the challenge to get the little plant to grow big like the picture...AND over-winter it!

Best of luck to you! If I didn't have such abysmal luck with houseplants, I'd be envious.