Re: Campsis grandiflora
- Subject: Re: Campsis grandiflora
- From: &* a* M* <t*@xtra.co.nz>
- Date: Thu, 16 Aug 2007 10:30:58 +1200
Tony & Moira Ryan, Wainuiomata, New Zealand
Climate ( US Zone 9). Annual averages:-
Minimum -2°C; Maximum 28°C Rainfall 2000mm
----- Original Message -----
From: "Caroline Drummond" <caroline.drummond@tiscali.co.uk>
To: <medit-plants@ucdavis.edu>
Sent: Wednesday, August 15, 2007 12:12 PM
Subject: Campsis grandiflora
Hi, I am new to this group. I am attempting to create a
Mediterranean-style
garden in Crawley, West Sussex, near Gatwick Airport, South-East England.
My first question is about where to plant my new Campsis grandiflora. I
have
a south-facing pergola between my kitchen and conservatory, but the
Campsis
would need to go in a big pot for this situation. Do Campsis do well in
pots? The alternative would be a south-facing fence, where I could plant
it
in the ground, but this site might not be so well protected from cold
winds
and frost. Any thoughts?
Hi Caroline
I am familiar with Campsis only in other people's gardens (mine does not
have room for one), but I think you would need a really big pot, or
preferably a half barrel, for it to be comfortable and suggest the site
where it can go in the ground would be better. It certainly needs plenty of
water in hot dry weather which would probably make a lot of work if it were
in a pot.
Regarding hardiness I am not sure what sort of winters you are getting in
West Sussex these days but it is said to be fully hardy at least to zone 7
which allows for winter minima between -12 and -18 degrees centigrade
(that's 0-10 Fahrenheit).
To get the best flowering you need to encourage plenty of young wood, as it
only flowers on the ends of new growth. You can ensure this and keep the
plant tidy and within bounds by cutting back all the shoots that have
flowered annually in winter to about one or two joints from the base.
Moira
