Duranta repens

[Axel Amsterdam]

I bought this plant in Portugal and had never seen it before. Anyone growing these?

[Silas_Sancona]

24 minutes ago, Axel Amsterdam said:

I bought this plant in Portugal and had never seen it before. Anyone growing these?

Can't speak for growing experience anywhere in Europe / Mediterranean areas of  Europe  but fairly popular here in the states, esp. in warm summer / relatively frost free areas of California, Florida, Texas, and Arizona.  Can be trained on a Trellis, or somewhat tree-like,  but is really a large, scrambly bush. 

Some forms have more spines on the stems than others, but wouldn't consider it " spiny ".. Not compared to other spiny things, lol.   There are a few flower color forms: standard, like pictured, a light blue-flowered form, and a white flowered form.  A few forms have variegated leaves as well.  All grow the same:  Full sun or light, filtered shade, average water to look nice, but can take some drought. Handles heat well also. Flowers in cycles through most of the year in many places.  As i'm sure you've noticed, flowers have an interesting fragrance.

Will suffer damage in a freeze, but supposedly can come back from the roots if cut to the ground in zone 8. I have my questions as to how accurate that is. Easy in a container so i would probably keep in a greenhouse through the winter where you're located.  Can be stared from cuttings kept warm and moist while rooting, or seed ( if produced )

[Tomas]

This is the variety called Geisha Girl, actualy nearly the only one sold here in Europe. It has some setbacks, the orange fruits that are also quite ornamental are much less numerous, and as far as I know, it is only slightly perfumed or not at all.

I cannot say how it can tollerate the prolonged cold of central Europe, but I have one plant in pot here in central Italy and it took -5°C returning very quickly.

 

I planted two small cuttings in my garden in full ground and in few years it grew to a shrub more than 2 metres high. This year Italy was hit with exceptional drought and I decided I had no water to vaste on these plants that I am not particularly fond of and I thought it was dead, but with the first little rain it exploded with flowers and new leaves.

 

Tomas

[Fusca]

I grew a Duranta several years ago and it seemed to love the heat and humidity of Houston, Texas.  Easy to root cuttings (I say this because I was able to do it!)  I also grew a "Golden Duranta" in San Antonio that came back from 9°F in February 2021 but it didn't transplant well.  Very nice plant.

[Xenon]

Mine came right back from 12F. Grows like a rocket in the heat, free flowering and needs very little supplemtal irrigation (usually). Looks great paired with the other hardy staple, yellow esperanza/Tecoma stans 'Gold Star'. The bees like it. 

Edited October 24, 2022 by Xenon

[Xenon]

disregard 

Edited October 24, 2022 by Xenon

[Axel Amsterdam]

Thanks everyone for the replies. It seems like a plant to take cuttings from and try outside in spring in a warm microclimate.