Re: Unknown plant (Unknown no longer!)/Montanoa

> wim van putten wrote:
> > 
> > Hi Cathy and Moira
> > Cathy's guess is right. I checked in  Botanica and
> Conservatory and Indoor
> > Plants, part 2 from Roger Phillips and Martyn Rix
> and it is definetly a
> > Montanoa. The species is probably bipinnatifida,
> but I have to check this
> > later in the season, when it has more  mature
> leaves.

Be sure that you are able to give this plant some
room, as it can easily get 15 feet tall in a couple of
year's time, and there are several large clumps at
Strybing Arboretum in San Francisco which approach 20
feet in size.  As they do bloom on new growth, they
can be kept smaller, but probably are best used as a
border hedge/windscreen.  I have M. grandiflora in my
own garden, and it still has some remnant blooms on
it, but mostly just the showy dried seed heads, which
can make an interesting cut decorative dried flower in
arrangements, and is especially attractive while it is
still lime green and fresh.  For some reason, the
seeds do not seem to be fertile,(or at least they
don't self sow in my garden), even though this shrub
is buzzing with bees when in full bloom in
November/December, early winter here.

It is a pity that the bloom doesn't repeat or last
longer,(although 6 weeks or more isn't too bad), and
sometimes I can extend the bloom season if I cut some
branches back a month or so before they start to bud
up, but this is also contingent on the winter staying
fairly mild.  It has been hardy for me down to
-4C/25F, and will defoliate, but quickly regrows from
the woody branches.  If your first frosts tend to come
after the  winter equinox, it will probably
successfully bloom in your climate, similar to the
Dahlia imperialis/Tree Dahlias.  

The Dahlia imperialis can also be quite variable in
bloom season, with the Double White form being the
latest to bloom for me(still in bloom now), and the
single lavender form mainly finished blooming in my
garden, with remnant flowers, but still in full bloom
on other plants(perhaps different clones), around town
here in Berkeley. Has anyone had success with
germinating this from seed?  D. imperialis never self
selfsows for me, but seems to have set an abundance of
seed this year.  If anyone would be interested in seed
of this to try, email me privately, (I could also send
seed of Montanoa grandiflora if you care to try it;
but plants are available locally through Suncrest
Wholesale Nursery as well).

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