Fernaldia pandurata

[Jdiaz31089]

I wonder if anyone has tried this vine outside of it's native range in Central America. I brought seed back from El Salvador several years ago, and had excellent germination rates. The seeds came from plants at my grandparent's place in Cabanas, near the border with Honduras. I gave most of the resulting plants away to friends throughout the central valley and the San Francisco bay area. I also donated one to the SF botanical garden for the Meso-American exhibit, but I have no idea what ever became of any of the seedlings.

I've been growing my own plant for several years in Fresno - 5 years from seed or so, I imagine. My parent's plant in Chowchilla bloomed last year for the first time, but I haven't had any blooms on mine yet. I'm fertilizing these heavily this summer to encourage flowers on it, as the flowers are rather tasty! 

Mine have lived through our zone 9b winters without a problem. Every winter, it drops its leaves, then somewhat sulks for several months after the weather warms before leafing back out. So far, as a vegetable crop, it doesn't seem to be a good option for California as they've been really slow to flower. As an ornamental, it might have some value. The leaves are thick and leathery - very dark and glossy. I would immage they'd do best in a coastal climate where it rarely freezes so that it remains evergreen. I'll take pictures of mine sometime this weekend and update the post with them. 

[XYZ]

Besides imported loroco, they sell fresh domestic product in Latino markets this area so I suppose there are small market or backyard plantings of it here and there in California. It is quite expensive as a fresh seasoning and I think a lot of pupuserias around here use frozen. I happen to like it, but admittedly it's not to everyone's taste.

[Josue Diaz]

Just as a follow up, these are finally blooming for me in Fresno. They germinated in 2012, and went on the ground in 2013. It's semi-decidious in winter, dropping almost all of its leaves before resprouting in spring. It's taken 6 years from seed for this particular one to bloom. I noticed several developing flower buds!

 

[Josue Diaz]

Right on schedule, its flowering now, just as the weather cools. These flowers will be going into some pupusas later today. Happy Thanksgiving!