Deppea splendens

[John Case]

I went a little crazy when I saw this plant and bought one (according to my 6 year old grandaughter) to 'save the earth'.

The information available varies in dates but is consistent with the players involved.

Sometime between 1973 and 1981, botanist Dennis Breedlove discovered this plant while trekking through the cool mountains of southern Mexico. The plants were found nowhere else except a single location in the cool Mexican hills and possible Northern Bolivia. When Breedlove returned to the site in 1986, the plants were gone - a victim of farmland development. The species is now believed to be extinct in the wild. Fortunately, Breedlove had saved some seeds of Deppea and grew them. Any existing plants of this species originated from those seeds. This is one of the rarest plants in cultivation today.

D. splendens is now living only in cultivation from seeds brought out of the native habitat prior to its destruction. There are several strains around but few plants are generally available and those that exist are in a few private collections and botanical gardens.

A close relative of coffee, this plant has outstanding landscape potential although handles frost poorly. Many of these scarce plants were killed in unexpected frosts at botanical gardens.

There are several cultivars which may prove important with this plant in getting it to seed. Seemingly D. splendens will not seed from self-fertilisation so a second clone is neccessary in order to set seed. Strains which are now in botanical gardens and collections include 'Augusten', one from Strybing labelled 'S' clone 'A' and 'B', and 'Cristobal'. It is unclear whether A is also the strain called Augusten and whether 'Cristobal' is also called 'C' in some collections. Again, more than one type of clone (an 'A' AND a 'B' - not two 'B's) are likely neccessary to get D. splendens to set seed. Rumour of it setting seed at the Huntington in Los Angeles is not confirmed (at least by the writer of this commentary).

In any case I think this plant is pretty nice (so does my grandaughter) and it will be nurtured here, indoors in the Winter and Summer, Outdoors in the Spring and Autumn.

[bahia]

John, the Deppea is actually readily available these days through Annie's Annuals here in Richmond, California, they currently have 100's of them in production in 4 inch size, and you can even get them in bloom! I've had this growing in my own Berkeley garden for about 10 years now, after first buying the 'Cristobal' form from San Marcos Growers Wholesale Nursery down in Santa Barbara. I think it will be somewhat temperamental for you out in Brentwood, as it is a cloud forest species which seems to prefer cool summers and mild winters, although people in San Diego with much hotter summers also seem to be growing it well. My plant in the garden is now about 7 feet tall by 4 feet across, and has more blooms this fall than ever before, at least 50 clusters of bloom at one time. Here it starts blooming in September and will usually continue until it gets too cold and rainy around Christmas time. It seems to really respond well to dappled shade and moist soil, and protected from wind and strong winter rains. Originally when I had this planted out in a raised planter off a large terrace here in the Berkeley hills, it got a bit water stressed in the afternoons, and was attacked by scale insects. I moved it into my own back yard and planted it in the ground, and with just a bit of hand grooming to remove scale the first year, it is now completely free of it and thriving. If you see Argentine ants swarming your plant, treat to eliminate them and also look for scale. I understand some members of the IPS in the San Diego area do have different clones, and their plants have set viable seed. It is a very beautiful plant in full bloom, but no frost resistance to speak of.

[edric]

I went a little crazy when I saw this plant and bought one (according to my 6 year old grandaughter) to 'save the earth'.

The information available varies in dates but is consistent with the players involved.

Sometime between 1973 and 1981, botanist Dennis Breedlove discovered this plant while trekking through the cool mountains of southern Mexico. The plants were found nowhere else except a single location in the cool Mexican hills and possible Northern Bolivia. When Breedlove returned to the site in 1986, the plants were gone - a victim of farmland development. The species is now believed to be extinct in the wild. Fortunately, Breedlove had saved some seeds of Deppea and grew them. Any existing plants of this species originated from those seeds. This is one of the rarest plants in cultivation today.

D. splendens is now living only in cultivation from seeds brought out of the native habitat prior to its destruction. There are several strains around but few plants are generally available and those that exist are in a few private collections and botanical gardens.

A close relative of coffee, this plant has outstanding landscape potential although handles frost poorly. Many of these scarce plants were killed in unexpected frosts at botanical gardens.

There are several cultivars which may prove important with this plant in getting it to seed. Seemingly D. splendens will not seed from self-fertilisation so a second clone is neccessary in order to set seed. Strains which are now in botanical gardens and collections include 'Augusten', one from Strybing labelled 'S' clone 'A' and 'B', and 'Cristobal'. It is unclear whether A is also the strain called Augusten and whether 'Cristobal' is also called 'C' in some collections. Again, more than one type of clone (an 'A' AND a 'B' - not two 'B's) are likely neccessary to get D. splendens to set seed. Rumour of it setting seed at the Huntington in Los Angeles is not confirmed (at least by the writer of this commentary).

In any case I think this plant is pretty nice (so does my grandaughter) and it will be nurtured here, indoors in the Winter and Summer, Outdoors in the Spring and Autumn.

How cool John, you should get a second one and see what happens, Ed

[Bags]

I have two plants growing now. One is the Cristobal clone from San Marcos Growers that is blooming nicely and the other I grew from seed, and has not bloomed yet. They do great here in coastal San Diego and bloom from fall well into winter. I would say mine does not look as good this year after a long hot summer so I would find a cool spot with filtered sun if you can. I hope to produce some seed once my second plant blooms. As was said already this plant is self sterile and since most plants in cultivation were cuttings off of one or two plants seeds have been hard to come by until recently.

[LJG]

Aaron, the one I got from you was almost dead from the 107 we hit last month. They do ot like heat at all. Fingers crossed it recovers.

[Vari805]

I have access to these plants at SM Growers. They are really cool when in bloom.

[Randall SD]

Deppea splendens can and does produces viable seeds when different clones are crossed. I will attest to that since my plants have been producing seeds for that past several years. I've grown over 25 individual plants from crosses between Cristóbal and Augusten clones.

Flower cluster from a seed grown plant

These are a couple of flower clusters from different seedlings showing color variations

My Augusten clone blooming in early August

[John Case]

It appears that I need another one or two,...anyone offering?

[Palms1984]

Deppea splendens can and does produces viable seeds when different clones are crossed. I will attest to that since my plants have been producing seeds for that past several years. I've grown over 25 individual plants from crosses between Cristóbal and Augusten clones.

Flower cluster from a seed grown plant

These are a couple of flower clusters from different seedlings showing color variations

My Augusten clone blooming in early August

Randy, I noticed today my plant has several flower spikes. It bloomed back in August and now it has more flowers spikes, Since my plant is an offspring from your plant, is your plant developing flower spikes?

[Randall SD]

Deppea splendens can and does produces viable seeds when different clones are crossed. I will attest to that since my plants have been producing seeds for that past several years. I've grown over 25 individual plants from crosses between Cristóbal and Augusten clones.

Flower cluster from a seed grown plant

These are a couple of flower clusters from different seedlings showing color variations

My Augusten clone blooming in early August

Randy, I noticed today my plant has several flower spikes. It bloomed back in August and now it has more flowers spikes, Since my plant is an offspring from your plant, is your plant developing flower spikes?

Yes Andy, some of my plants are in light bloom now with quite a few new flower spikes forming. I'm hoping for a nice winter bloom after summers bloom was cut short by the hot weather. Some of my plants dropped a lot of leaves and aborted flower spikes in the heat. The plants are leafing back out nicely and look much better now.

[Bags]

Wow Randall! Pics like that are what first got me looking for one of these. They are spectacular plants in bloom. I just noticed the second one that I grew from seed (from you) is throwing a few bloom spikes, hopefully I can make some seeds with my other plant. How did the Dudleya and Fushcia boliviana seeds do?

Len,

Hopefully it hangs on. If not I'll get you another if mine sets seed.

[Randall SD]

Wow Randall! Pics like that are what first got me looking for one of these. They are spectacular plants in bloom. I just noticed the second one that I grew from seed (from you) is throwing a few bloom spikes, hopefully I can make some seeds with my other plant. How did the Dudleya and Fushcia boliviana seeds do?

Len,

Hopefully it hangs on. If not I'll get you another if mine sets seed.

I have a couple of Fushcia boliviana plants grown from the seeds I got from you, they started blooming last spring and are growing fast. I didn't do so well with the Dudleya brittonii my first try. I still have seeds but am not sure if they're still viable.

Fushcia boliviana flower with Deppea splendens foliage. Taken 10/29/12

[Darold Petty]

What is the secret for flowering? A minimum size? My 5-gallon start of Cristobal from San Marcos has tripled in size, but no hint of flowers.

It is also rather leggy, with foliage only on the top third of the stems. I had thought that this plant would be easy for my microclimate, but nada so far!

[Vari805]

It appears that I need another one or two,...anyone offering?

I would be willing to send you one, of course, cost of plant and shipping. SM Growers is 1 mile from my house, and I am there a couple times a month. Let me know via PM

[Bags]

What is the secret for flowering? A minimum size? My 5-gallon start of Cristobal from San Marcos has tripled in size, but no hint of flowers.

It is also rather leggy, with foliage only on the top third of the stems. I had thought that this plant would be easy for my microclimate, but nada so far!

How much sun is yours getting Darold? Mine gets quite a bit of direct sunlight with mid day filtered light. Where you are it may want full sun. Mine bloomed the first year from a five gallon. It looks a little leggy after winter, but I have been pruning it back before it starts growing in spring and it fills out nicely.

[Darold Petty]

Thanks, Aaron. Mine is indeed mostly in shade, on the north side of an east/west fence. It is nearly as tall as the fence now, so more direct sun will occur next season.

[Palms1984]

Deppea splendens can and does produces viable seeds when different clones are crossed. I will attest to that since my plants have been producing seeds for that past several years. I've grown over 25 individual plants from crosses between Cristóbal and Augusten clones.

Flower cluster from a seed grown plant

These are a couple of flower clusters from different seedlings showing color variations

My Augusten clone blooming in early August

Randy, I noticed today my plant has several flower spikes. It bloomed back in August and now it has more flowers spikes, Since my plant is an offspring from your plant, is your plant developing flower spikes?

Yes Andy, some of my plants are in light bloom now with quite a few new flower spikes forming. I'm hoping for a nice winter bloom after summers bloom was cut short by the hot weather. Some of my plants dropped a lot of leaves and aborted flower spikes in the heat. The plants are leafing back out nicely and look much better now.

Randy:

Yes, the hot days and very warm nights for the last 3 months or so caused several of the leaves to fall off the plant you gave me. Now that the nights are cooling down a bit, the leaves are growing back. The flower spikes back in August never were affected by the heat. It could be because I have the plant under my shade structure which is located on the north side of the house.