San Diego Tropical Plants

[epicure3]

Here are some other tropicals growing in the garden. Some are surprising to see flourish here, others are pretty common.

This is a dwarf Ylang Ylang (Cananga Odorata v fruticosa). This is the first year it has been in the ground so I don't really know if it will live through the winter, much less 'flourish'. It has thrown out several flowers this summer though.

[epicure3]

A Guzmania I just picked up at the grocery store. This has been through a couple of winters and is one of the less hardy broms out there.

[epicure3]

Gardenia taitensis. This has been in its spot for a few years and never misses a beat. A less hardy variety.

[epicure3]

Brunfelsia americana. Another less hardy variety is actually very hardy, at least where it is. It is now getting way too big. Seems to flourish in waves. Nothing then the whole shrub is covered in white flowers. Also known as Lady of the Night due to the strong fragrance in the evening.

[epicure3]

Clusia lanceolata.

[epicure3]

Scaevola taccada. Needs very little water and has grown pretty large for being just one plant. Been in the ground for 1 1/2 years.

[epicure3]

Fagraea ceilanica. Another good grower for me. Usually flowers in the fall.

[epicure3]

Stemmadenia littoralis. I think that the cool weather this summer has put the kabosh on any flower formation and just looks like a boring old small tree.

[epicure3]

Same goes for this Coccoloba diversifolia. The cold winters turn the leaves of this small tree white of all colors. The leaves fall off slowly and get replaced by more white leaves. Normally, they turn green but the summer has been so cool that they are still whitish. I wouldn't be surprised if this winter "does it in". It really wants a warmer climate unlike the C. uvifera which does extremely well here.

[epicure3]

Cordia lutea. Does pretty well here but better inland.

[epicure3]

Finally, a Spathodea. This tree blooms later than any other tulip tree I have seen in San Diego. The blooms wait until October to come out. I've seen them out as early as April in other parts of town. I don't know why. Do you?

[fastfeat]

John--

Pretty impressive growth on the Scaevola. It's not one I'd have expected to thrive in a Mediterranean climate.

Brunfelsia americana is a bullet-proof shrub for coastal SoCal that deserves much wider use. The one I donateed to Fullerton Arboretum is about 10' tall now, despite utter neglect. I'd post pics, but it's tough to see it through the mulberry volunteers that have now nearly swallowed it. I was going to cut down the vols last time i was there, but I'm afraid I'd probably be arrested there nowadays...

[fastfeat]

Same goes for this Coccoloba diversifolia. The cold winters turn the leaves of this small tree white of all colors. The leaves fall off slowly and get replaced by more white leaves. Normally, they turn green but the summer has been so cool that they are still whitish. I wouldn't be surprised if this winter "does it in". It really wants a warmer climate unlike the C. uvifera which does extremely well here.

John--

RE: this and Stemmadenia:

Try pulling the groundcover away so the soil can warm up more quickly and apply mild nitrogen fertilizer (though it's getting a little late in the season now--I'd start in May or June next year.)

This sort of thing is especially common on Ficus benjamina in coastal SoCal in particularly cool Springs. Getting the soil to warm as quickly as possible is key to getting past this stage.

[epicure3]

Same goes for this Coccoloba diversifolia. The cold winters turn the leaves of this small tree white of all colors. The leaves fall off slowly and get replaced by more white leaves. Normally, they turn green but the summer has been so cool that they are still whitish. I wouldn't be surprised if this winter "does it in". It really wants a warmer climate unlike the C. uvifera which does extremely well here.

John--

RE: this and Stemmadenia:

Try pulling the groundcover away so the soil can warm up more quickly and apply mild nitrogen fertilizer (though it's getting a little late in the season now--I'd start in May or June next year.)

This sort of thing is especially common on Ficus benjamina in coastal SoCal in particularly cool Springs. Getting the soil to warm as quickly as possible is key to getting past this stage.

That is an awesome idea. Never thought of it but it makes total sense.

Thanks!

[epicure3]

John--

Pretty impressive growth on the Scaevola. It's not one I'd have expected to thrive in a Mediterranean climate.

Brunfelsia americana is a bullet-proof shrub for coastal SoCal that deserves much wider use. The one I donateed to Fullerton Arboretum is about 10' tall now, despite utter neglect. I'd post pics, but it's tough to see it through the mulberry volunteers that have now nearly swallowed it. I was going to cut down the vols last time i was there, but I'm afraid I'd probably be arrested there nowadays...

It was a surprise for me too. My guess is that nobody had actually has tried to grow it. It still actually grows through the winter. It has pretty cool white berries in the fall and winter.

[fastfeat]

Same goes for this Coccoloba diversifolia. The cold winters turn the leaves of this small tree white of all colors. The leaves fall off slowly and get replaced by more white leaves. Normally, they turn green but the summer has been so cool that they are still whitish. I wouldn't be surprised if this winter "does it in". It really wants a warmer climate unlike the C. uvifera which does extremely well here.

John--

RE: this and Stemmadenia:

Try pulling the groundcover away so the soil can warm up more quickly and apply mild nitrogen fertilizer (though it's getting a little late in the season now--I'd start in May or June next year.)

This sort of thing is especially common on Ficus benjamina in coastal SoCal in particularly cool Springs. Getting the soil to warm as quickly as possible is key to getting past this stage.

That is an awesome idea. Never thought of it but it makes total sense.

Thanks!

Basically, soil needs to be warm enough for nitrogen to get absorbed by tropical plants. The white you see is due to the lack of nitrogen. But just dumping a bunch of nitrogen in cool soils will result in leaf burn; key is getting the soil warm enough for the plants to use the nutrient.

Both you and Len (and a few others here too) have actually done a lot in terms of "pushing the envelope". Best of luck in the future and keep us posted.

[epicure3]

[

[bubba]

Great specimens with no fear of pushing the envelope. Particularly like the African Tulip. How old is that specimen?

[epicure3]

Great specimens with no fear of pushing the envelope. Particularly like the African Tulip. How old is that specimen?

It was planted as a 15g about 4 years ago. It grows very fast.

[LJG]

Stemmadenia littoralis. I think that the cool weather this summer has put the kabosh on any flower formation and just looks like a boring old small tree.

Same issue with mine. I will give mine one more year and it is gone.

[epicure3]

Stemmadenia littoralis. I think that the cool weather this summer has put the kabosh on any flower formation and just looks like a boring old small tree.

Same issue with mine. I will give mine one more year and it is gone.

Me too.I'm hoping with our usual hot October, something might happen. Even still, I hear that this tree is a sparse bloomer in places like south Flroida so that doesn't fill me with confidence.

[fastfeat]

Stemmadenia littoralis. I think that the cool weather this summer has put the kabosh on any flower formation and just looks like a boring old small tree.

Same issue with mine. I will give mine one more year and it is gone.

Me too.I'm hoping with our usual hot October, something might happen. Even still, I hear that this tree is a sparse bloomer in places like south Flroida so that doesn't fill me with confidence.

Might be worth trying in low desert, with irrigation. Tolerance of alkalinity shouldn't be an issue, will probably recover quickly from frost damage with high spring heat.

[MattyB]

John, maybe your spathodea needs more P and less N. Just a thought. Does it get a lot of lawn fertilizer?

[epicure3]

John, maybe your spathodea needs more P and less N. Just a thought. Does it get a lot of lawn fertilizer?

It actually doesn't get any fertilizer. It is a late bloomer year after year.

[MattyB]

You're probably right, it's just a genetic predisposition. But I'm guessing that, although you don't fertilize it directly, being downslope from your lawn it gets its fair share of vittles.

[epicure3]

You're probably right, it's just a genetic predisposition. But I'm guessing that, although you don't fertilize it directly, being downslope from your lawn it gets its fair share of vittles.

Another thought.....

My tree defoliates almost 100% each winter either due to cold or wind or both. Maybe that's why it takes so long to flower each year.

[Palms1984]

Great specimens with no fear of pushing the envelope. Particularly like the African Tulip. How old is that specimen?

In my opinion growing African Tulip trees is not pushing the envelope. They are very common here.

Edited September 17, 2010 by Palms1984

[Palms1984]

Finally, a Spathodea. This tree blooms later than any other tulip tree I have seen in San Diego. The blooms wait until October to come out. I've seen them out as early as April in other parts of town. I don't know why. Do you?

John:

Great collection of tropical plants! Have you ever tried growing any Mussaenda species? I have Mussaenda philippica 'Dona Luz' which may be starting to bloom soon...even in our coolest summer in about 100 years.

[epicure3]

Finally, a Spathodea. This tree blooms later than any other tulip tree I have seen in San Diego. The blooms wait until October to come out. I've seen them out as early as April in other parts of town. I don't know why. Do you?

John:

Great collection of tropical plants! Have you ever tried growing any Mussaenda species? I have Mussaenda philippica 'Dona Luz' which may be starting to bloom soon...even in our coolest summer in about 100 years.

I have not. I hadn't even heard about it until you mentioned it. I looked it up and it seems like a beautiful small tree. Are the flowers fragrant?

[Cindy Adair]

Great specimens with no fear of pushing the envelope. Particularly like the African Tulip. How old is that specimen?

In my opinion growing African Tulip trees is not pushing the envelope. They are very common here.

In Western Puerto Rico African Tulip trees are considered a great nuisance. My husband spends a fair amount of time taking his machete and chopping them down only to see several more sprouting from the base. If you chop up the tree into pieces and leave the pieces on the ground they will all grow. Of course the seeds blow in the wind as well. They ARE lovely and it's also fun to squirt unsuspecting people with the liquid in unopened buds like a water pistol. I think eradicating them is impossible like the ivy in my Virginia yard. I do admit I've had a potted tree in Virginia for years before I visited Puerto Rico. My husband glares at it and threatens it with his machete, but I've protected it so far. When we finally move to PR in 5 years it will not come with us....

Thanks for showing all the lovely tropical plants that you are growing so well!

[epicure3]

Great specimens with no fear of pushing the envelope. Particularly like the African Tulip. How old is that specimen?

In my opinion growing African Tulip trees is not pushing the envelope. They are very common here.

In Western Puerto Rico African Tulip trees are considered a great nuisance. My husband spends a fair amount of time taking his machete and chopping them down only to see several more sprouting from the base. If you chop up the tree into pieces and leave the pieces on the ground they will all grow. Of course the seeds blow in the wind as well. They ARE lovely and it's also fun to squirt unsuspecting people with the liquid in unopened buds like a water pistol. I think eradicating them is impossible like the ivy in my Virginia yard. I do admit I've had a potted tree in Virginia for years before I visited Puerto Rico. My husband glares at it and threatens it with his machete, but I've protected it so far. When we finally move to PR in 5 years it will not come with us....

Thanks for showing all the lovely tropical plants that you are growing so well!

Thanks for the compliment. No such invasive issues here though volunteer seedlings do pop up around the mother tree every year. They are easily removed.

[LJG]

Getting the tropical flowering trees to finally flower and show full glory takes the similar passage by fire that must be endured when getting a slow growing palm to trunk. It takes many years to get it to a size it can handle the cool soils and get to a size it will hold its leaves longer and also flower minus the hot spring usually required for most tropical flowering tree.

[Palms1984]

Great specimens with no fear of pushing the envelope. Particularly like the African Tulip. How old is that specimen?

In my opinion growing African Tulip trees is not pushing the envelope. They are very common here.

In Western Puerto Rico African Tulip trees are considered a great nuisance. My husband spends a fair amount of time taking his machete and chopping them down only to see several more sprouting from the base. If you chop up the tree into pieces and leave the pieces on the ground they will all grow. Of course the seeds blow in the wind as well. They ARE lovely and it's also fun to squirt unsuspecting people with the liquid in unopened buds like a water pistol. I think eradicating them is impossible like the ivy in my Virginia yard. I do admit I've had a potted tree in Virginia for years before I visited Puerto Rico. My husband glares at it and threatens it with his machete, but I've protected it so far. When we finally move to PR in 5 years it will not come with us....

Thanks for showing all the lovely tropical plants that you are growing so well!

Thanks for the compliment. No such invasive issues here though volunteer seedlings do pop up around the mother tree every year. They are easily removed.

The only places I've seen a little bit of naturalization is at: The San Diego Zoo, parts of the North Park District, San Diego State grounds, Balboa Park and a few other areas...and in these areas it's always where there's a sprinkler system present.

[Palms1984]

Finally, a Spathodea. This tree blooms later than any other tulip tree I have seen in San Diego. The blooms wait until October to come out. I've seen them out as early as April in other parts of town. I don't know why. Do you?

John:

Great collection of tropical plants! Have you ever tried growing any Mussaenda species? I have Mussaenda philippica 'Dona Luz' which may be starting to bloom soon...even in our coolest summer in about 100 years.

I have not. I hadn't even heard about it until you mentioned it. I looked it up and it seems like a beautiful small tree. Are the flowers fragrant?

The flowers are not fragrant...although, some varieties could have a fragrance...as it is in the coffee family. It's mostly grown for the beauty of their bracts. It's a little tricky here because it hates our hard water and is sensitive to cool weather. It's definitely worth trying in your garden.

Edited September 18, 2010 by Palms1984

[epicure3]

Getting the tropical flowering trees to finally flower and show full glory takes the similar passage by fire that must be endured when getting a slow growing palm to trunk. It takes many years to get it to a size it can handle the cool soils and get to a size it will hold its leaves longer and also flower minus the hot spring usually required for most tropical flowering tree.

Interesting. I must have a way to go with the Tulip Tree.

[LJG]

Getting the tropical flowering trees to finally flower and show full glory takes the similar passage by fire that must be endured when getting a slow growing palm to trunk. It takes many years to get it to a size it can handle the cool soils and get to a size it will hold its leaves longer and also flower minus the hot spring usually required for most tropical flowering tree.

Interesting. I must have a way to go with the Tulip Tree.

I was referring to the envelop-pushing stuff. Many Cassias, Fernadoa's, Colvillea, Delonix, etc.

[ariscott]

Hey... even delonix takes 4-5 years to flower here. Cassia about the same... although my big C. javanica is stubborn!! And so is my T. palmeri!! Talking about stubborn, so is my Deplenchia!! I think the lack of dry 'dry season' might cause trees not to flower this year...

Regards, Ari

[fastfeat]

Hey... even delonix takes 4-5 years to flower here. Cassia about the same... although my big C. javanica is stubborn!! And so is my T. palmeri!! Talking about stubborn, so is my Deplenchia!! I think the lack of dry 'dry season' might cause trees not to flower this year...

Regards, Ari

Ari--

Lack of dry season (like too mild a winter for temperate trees) is very likely a limiting factor for flowering of many tropical trees. BTW, wasn't last year unusually dry for you? Is your drought now over?

Edited September 20, 2010 by fastfeat

[ariscott]

We never have drought up here... we just don't usually get rain in the dry season. It is South East Queensland & other southern states which had the drought. Although last dry was very extreme, but we had higher than average wet season after (well, at least at my place).

But this year, we had high humidity, warmish dry season & rain. So, my tabs aren't as spectacular. I doubt the delonix will flower... But the growth is simply spectacular. My C. javanica hasn't stopped growing literally... Can't complain, need the canopy. There is always next year. Also, no mangoes this year either... I am a bit annoyed about that...

Regards, Ari

[JasonD]

John--

Pretty impressive growth on the Scaevola. It's not one I'd have expected to thrive in a Mediterranean climate.

Brunfelsia americana is a bullet-proof shrub for coastal SoCal that deserves much wider use. The one I donateed to Fullerton Arboretum is about 10' tall now, despite utter neglect. I'd post pics, but it's tough to see it through the mulberry volunteers that have now nearly swallowed it. I was going to cut down the vols last time i was there, but I'm afraid I'd probably be arrested there nowadays...

It was a surprise for me too. My guess is that nobody had actually has tried to grow it. It still actually grows through the winter. It has pretty cool white berries in the fall and winter.

Logee's sells a Brunfelsia jamaicensis reputed to be endangered in its Blue Mountains habitat. I grew one here in San Francisco for years in a pot, often neglecting it, and every equinox it would push out a flush of really beautiful, long tubed white-green flowers that were powerfully fragrant after dark. It seems really similar to B. americana. I'd like to try it in the ground.