Re: Winter smells/Luculia gratissima


Gay, 
You are absolutely right about L. gratissima, it was
an oversight on my part to have forgotten this one. 
Unfortunately all of the Luculias are rather rare here
in California, and are somewhat like Daphne odora in
that they are not always long lived.  I find that most
have done fairly well for me in the cool maritime
mediterannean climate we have here in Berkeley and San
Francisco, but they have always been prone to terrible
thrips in my own garden, although they don't seem
bothered by them at Strybing Arboretum in Golden Gate
Park.  Occasionally you can find these for sale, and
Suncrest Nursery in Watsonville, Ca. does have L.
pinceana and L. gratissima for sale this year.  I
would love to see this large shrub tried more often,
and anyone gardening in Sunset Zones 14 and 15(with
protection),16,17 and 23 ought to give it a try.  It
is good in cooler summer gardens which don't get below
freezing in winter, and is a high elevation plant from
the Himalayas, although if I remember correctly, there
is also a species native to Hong Kong.
David



--- Gay Klok <gklok@trump.net.au> wrote:
> And do not forget Luculia gratissima.   I have one
> planted by the side door that
> everyone uses and in the middle of Winter, a caller
> will be knocking on the
> door, with a dreamy look on their face and say to me
> "I think I will just stand
> here for a while" - A combination of spicy and sweet
> because the Chimonanthus
> praecox is a nodding neighbour.
> If they walk down the old brick path, they will
> again be overcome with the
> vapors - various species Hamamelis will assault
> their noses
> And talking of the Hamamelis and funny weather
> conditions - What is Hamamelis
> doing coming into full bloom now.   It is late
> summer here and this is happening
> in my cooler country garden!
> 
> --
> Gay Klok Tasmania
> Latest article: "Are you True Gardeners
> in Real Gardens?"
> "Rose are Red
> Violets are blue
> I am a gardener
> And you are too"
> 
>
http://www.suite101.com/welcome.cfm/tasmanian_gardening
> http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/Vines/3411
> http://members.tripod.com/~klok/WRINKLY_.HTM
> 


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