Re: Crinodendron hookerianum

> Tristram Smyth wrote:
> > 
> > Has anyone got any experience of growing this
> small tree/large
> > shrub, commonly known as Lantern tree?
> > 
> > I saw one in a public garden in SW France one
> spring - delightful
> > sight in flower. I live in  coastal SW England
> (zone 8/9) and
> > wondered about the chances of it surviving here.
> > 
> > Appreciate any input
> > 
> Tristram 

I think this probably does much better in colder zones
than it does here in coastal northern California.  It
is very slow growing here, and has always struck me as
looking somewhat shabby in habit.  There is a fairly
large shrubby one approx. 5 foot tall by 8 foot across
up at the UC Berkeley Botanic Garden, and even when in
full bloom here, is still not nearly as showy as some
other red blooming shrubs in the same garden, such as
Illicium mexicanaum.  It would appear to resent our
long dry summers, and perhaps prefers some winter
chill for better growth.  It is not often seen here in
California, and I have only kept it alive as a
container plant for 2 to 3 years before it dies. C.
patagua is similarly uncommon around here, and also
suffers just as much if allowed to go dry.  Probably
similar to many of the rainforest species of Chilean
plants such as Desfontinaea spinosa, which also
struggles abit in growth here.  There is a 4 foot tall
specimen at Strybing, but it also looks abit
bedraggled and unhappy.  Perhaps if we were cooler and
wetter in summer they would seem more adaptapted here,
and they may do significantly better right in the fog
beltwhere they would receive fog drip in summer.

On another note, it has been interesting to hear that
Bromeliad growers in Australia, Brazil and Florida
have been commenting on significant foliage burn on
plants that would normally be well adapted to full
sun.  I haven't noticed this effect here locally, and
wonder if it is due to higher UV light levels from
decreased ozone levels, or higher temps and lower
humidity during hot summers, or something else
altogether?

Here in northern California we have been receiving
great amounts of rain this December, along with fairly
mild weather,(no frosts), but some very strong
damaging winds.  In my own garden, the more fragile
things like Tree Dahlias and Tre Daisies had there
flowering cut short by the winds and rains.  This was
very limited damage compared to locations such as
Golden Gate Park.  It was rather sad to walk through
Strybing Botanic Garden, and see so many large fallen
Monterey Cypress and Pines strewn around the garden. 
Alot of the smaller shrubs and trees will take years
to outgrow the damages.

Hope everyone else has managed so far with these same
storms, I know I need to get the potted succulents
under rain cover to ride out this winter!




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