Re: Dodonea viscosa 'Purpurea' or 'Saratoga'

Hi all,

After much searching for a tree for a particular location I chose 'Dark Shadows' which is a fantastic tree!  But perhaps not for the location originally discussed in this forum.  It has somewhat of a weeping nature, flows in the wind, and is quite graceful.  It needs a more central location in a bed where it can move in the wind.  I'm putting it in a central part of a bed and will be up-lighting it, too,

Here is information about it from three US wholesale/retail nurseries:

from Daylily Hill Nursery, Escondido, California:  Soft textured, slender, burgundy leaves on gracefully arching branches that hang down like a miniature weeping willow. Prune and shape as a small tree. Up to 14 feet tall with white flowers. 

from San Marcos Growers, wholesale grower, Santa Barbara, California: Leptospermum 'Dark Shadows' - A fast growing spreading shrub or small tree that reaches to 15 feet tall by 20 feet wide. Although attractive in flower, the most stunning aspect of this plant is its foliage. It has flexible sprays of 1 inch long soft dark olive green leaves that are flushed dark burgundy maroon. This color is especially pronounced in the outer edges of the canopy where they recieve full sun. In the summer on new growth are produced creamy white single flowers to 3/4 inches across. This reportedly is a seedling of a seedling of Leptospermum 'Copper Spray'. Plant in full sun and water little to occasionally. Tolerant to temperatures to 20°F 25°F. Our plants and information come from Monterey Bay Nursery."

from Monterey Bay Nursery, wholesale grower, Watsonville, Califoria: Rather large leaves (for a Leptospermum), are soft and flushed very dark burgundy maroon wherever they encounter direct sunlight. Creamy white single flowers to 3/4" across are produced in summer on new growth. This thing is big and fast. In full sun it is the darkest foliaged Lepto that we know of, and makes an outstanding background or centerpiece specimen. Its long sprays of foliage move easily in a breeze, and the trailing branches create an overall luxuriant look. Sun (for color), drought tolerant, not damaged at 25°F but probably at least severely unhappy at 20°F. rev 1/2003.

Regards,
Carol

On Feb 19, 2008, at 7:43 AM, N Sterman wrote:

Linda, look at some of the non-tea trea leptspermums.  Lepto 'Dark shadows' is rated to 15 ft (that may be too tall), but 'Burgundy Glow' gets to about 8 or 10' tall as I recall.  



On Feb 19, 2008, at 6:59 AM, <m*@ocsnet.net> <m*@ocsnet.net> wrote:

Thanks Joe, Nan and Barry,
 
Looks like eventually the height will be too tall.  Although the backdrop of a big expanse of a building with no windows would surely set them off.  I have had four in the ground for 4 years and they are still only 5 feet tall and as wide.  But our summers are so hot, most stuff stops growing and only existing here in summer and we have really poor soil.
 
Nan, my Dodonea have never reseeded, but I am using ground cover cloth in all my beds.
 
Perhaps there is something else with a burgundy foliage.  I have also recommended a Cotinus and would like something else to complement or contrast with it.  Maybe a clumping bamboo instead that grows to about 10 or 12 feet?  They want something evergreen.
 
Thanks again.
 
Linda Starr


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