Re: Got the plant but my books can't help!

Janet's comments on R. delacouri reminded me that R. 'Majestic Beauty' is another hybrid Rhaphiolepis which is in many ways similar to R. delacouri, in that it has super large and vigorous and deep pink flower clusters, as well as leaves which are more similar in appearance to Loquat trees than R. indica.  This is a very suitable small flowering tree as  used in California, although it is not as common as it deserves to be.  The bloom season seems to be much longer than for R. indica hybrids, and I feel that it is a much showier plant.  That may just be because Indian Hawthorn seems to be so much more floriferous in Southern California situations than in the San Francisco Bay Area, where it doesn't seem to stand out nearly as much as down south.  Then again, my impressions may just reflect seeing it in cooler more maritime situations rather than inland areas with more heat.  I recall that in the 1970's this was one of the most overplanted shr! ub! ! s in California, along with Photinia fraseri and Agapanthus africanus.  All three of these plants will survive below freezing temperatures, and came back after the December 1989 freeze in California with lows down into the teen's(F).  Somehow I still really like Agapanthus in all its abundance, while I find the other two overexposed, and not so heavily planted as they were back in the 70's.  It's a shame that the USA doesn't have the diversity of Agapanthus species and cultivars grown in South Africa and the UK.  I wonder if we will be bored with today's fascination with Bamboo's, Salvia's and ornamental grasses, 20 years from now?

Janet Blenkinship <janetble@otenet.gr> wrote:

Glen Hi
> 5. Raphiolepsis delacouri


Its really funny you should ask about Raphiolepsis. We hve just bought one,
in flower, from our local garden centre. We too struggled to find it at
first, but discovered it spelt Rhaphiolepsis in the big RHS dictionary.

I can well understand why you bought it, especially if it was in flower. the
leaves are leathery and textured, like sage and the inflorescences are large
and showy. the flowers on our plant being baby pink flowers with brown
bracteoles(RHS word, not mine) The whole effect seems much like a cherry
blossom tree in full swing.

The RHS book gives it as hardy to -15C, but i cannot vouch for that. They
say it is sturdy, evergreen and handsome. I would agree with that. Already
ours loooks settled and at home in our garden.

kind regards good growing

Janet b

Janet Blenkin! sh! ! ip
Crete, Greece

What is this life if, full of care,
we have no time to stand and stare.
William henry Davies
----- Original Message -----
From: Glenn Breayley


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