Re: Pereskia grandifolia (long)

Also of little interest to those who can grow Pereskia in the landscape.

> I just started this plant from seed & know almost nothing about it except it
> looks like it could be a succulent.  Can anybody tell me a bit more about
> this plant, how tall it gets, what does the flower look like, etc?  Thanks,
> Judy Showers, greenhouse grower in Pennsylvania, zone 6b
> 
   This has grown for years in the arid half of the KSU conservatory. I
never recall it achieving much height, and the largely horizontal growth
was pretty stocky and not really what I would call sprawling/scandent. The
largest I ever recall seeing it there is maybe 4-5'W x30"'H. Some cutting
back (not sure how much) was obviously required to keep it in those bounds,
but it's hard to envision it used as a hedge in the Carribean etc.
   This, btw, is on the south wall of a glass conservatory in northeast KS
USA, with frequently dull but not (whatever we think) terribly prolonged
winters, and total insolation somewhat more typical of Santa Fe than of 
Pennsylvania. Agave americana, for example. flowers "reliably" there.
   Anyway, a year ago this summer I salvaged a two-gallon backup plant that
was headed for the dumpster and planted it about May/June in the top of a
cut-out barrel full of what's basically shredded leaves & sand (the front
of this shaded by barrel-high plants). In our entire hot, dry summer
(considerably less rain than yours, at any rate, generally over a month of
95-105F temperatures) this was watered three times in the first month and
given nothing but admiration after that.
   BRIGHT. The oldest foliage tends to yellowish-chartreuse, but not so
strongly it bothers me (a person easily squicked by chartreuse). Newer
growth ranges from rich yellow thru delicious orangey-rose to a good true 
red. No idea as to the flowers or fruit; I don't at least recall ever
seeing those even in the conservatory, but I'm hardly in there every week
(or season, if the truth be told).
   
   Anyway, the plant no more than doubled in size by frost (to ~16"H x 30"W)
and was after a few frosts cut back to 6-8" bare stems to allow digging and
repotting. In a glass greenhouse at 75/60F with more than sufficient water
it showed no signs of life until February, and currently in a 7-gallon tub
of well-drained bark-based mix is on track to equal last summer's growth -
but in shade from about 1:00 on the color is nowhere near as good.
   In both situations, though, the growth has been dense and compact. The
thorns are definitely to be reckoned with, but for its totally carefree
nature and foliage alone, it may well have potential as a small summer
exotic specimen in the intemperate zone.
   Forced with water & fertilizer it probably would respond with more of
the showy new growth, but I've never seen it grown that way or done so.
In any case, it should be considered for full sun only except maybe in the
most extreme environments.
Other Mailing lists | Author Index | Date Index | Subject Index | Thread Index