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| FALL TEMPERATURES BRING CONFEDERATE ROSE BLOOM | |
| Published: November 12, 1997 | |
Small trees laden with white, then pink, then red blossomsQ: There is a large shrub/small tree covered with flowers on Verret School Road near the Hamilton Club and across from TFreres Bed and Breakfast. What is it called?Q: There are several shrubs blooming on the right hand side of the street in a yard as you enter The Settlement subdivision. The foliage looks like Confederate rose, but the flowers stay a bright rosy-red color and do not change. Q: My large Confederate rose has never bloomed. It is in full sun near my neighbors profusely blooming Confederate rose. Why? A: Between Confederate rose and night-blooming cereus, this has been a busy week for plant lovers. The tree on Verrot School Road is a Confederate rose, sometimes called cotton rose (Hibiscus mutabilis), whose large flowers open white and gradually change to pink, then to maroon, over several days. The shrubs blooming in The Settlement are also called cotton rose, also H. mutabilis, but the flowers on this cultivar remain rosy-red. Both varieties die back after winter freezes but return in spring. Both are easy to propagate from cuttings rooted in water. H. mutabilis blooms best when given full sunlight, fertile soil and lots of water. Hope that helps. Night-blooming cereus creates excitementFrom Ann:For several weeks a big event among gardeners has been the very-near profuse bloom of night-blooming cereus plants. Weve had a number of calls and accounts of these large beautiful blossoms opening earlier in the evening than usual and remaining open longer, probably as a result of cool temperatures and overcast daytime skies.Night-blooming cereus (Hylocereus undatus) is a vine-like perennial belonging to the Epiphyllum family of which Christmas cactus is also a member. It produces leafless, fleshy stems that will climb a support or hang from a basket. Between July and October large, prominent buds appear. These open, usually around 11 p.m., into spectacular, foot-long, waxy blossoms, white with yellow stamens. Irene Melancon, who lives in the Lafayette High area, has a 10-year-old rootbound plant in a hanging basket. Her plant has bloomed two or three times this year with five or six blossoms at a time, perfuming the air with a wonderful fragrance. She says that such heavy bloom is most unusual. Irene feeds her plant with Miracle Gro once a month during the growing season when it is outdoors. She stops feeding and reduces water during the winter months when the plant is kept indoors. When danger of frost has passed, she hangs the basket outdoors from a ligustrum tree branch which provides protection from full sun. New plants can be started from leaf sections and plant divisions. Carolina silverbell tree seeds about to run outTravis and Diana Callahan have been filling our readers SASEs with silverbell seeds but are about to run out. They assure us that when that happens, they will hold the envelopes until the next seasons seeds are available. If you would like to receive seeds then, send a SASE with two stamps to Travis and Diana Callahan, 15102 Lindsay Dr., Abbeville, La. 70510.The Callahans have had great success with their silverbell which they bought as a small container plant from Prairie Basse nursery six years ago. They report that the tree has bloomed every year, is very hardy, seems to tolerate our climate very well, and appears to have no real problems with pests. Their tree is planted in partial shade. Now that sounds like the perfect patio tree! |