Re: Petrea volubilis
- To: "Graham Payne" <d*@mail.telepac.pt>, "Medit-Plants" <m*@ucdavis.edu>
- Subject: Re: Petrea volubilis
- From: W* G* <w*@caribsurf.com>
- Date: Fri, 5 Feb 1999 08:24:20 -0400
On 02/05/99 4:31 AM Graham Payne (dpsgkp@mail.telepac.pt) wrote:
>Help! Does anybody out there know anything about Petrea volubilis ...I fear
>that it might be too dry here in the Algarve in southern Portugal, where we
>have long hot dry summers and wet (but not this year) winters. We sometimes
>get a few early morning ground frosts.
Can't tell you how much cold P. volubilis will stand as the thermometer
never drops below 16C (62F) hereabouts, but I have seen this plant
growing well in southern Florida where frost occasionally occurs. My
established plants cope easily enough with drought, deluge, and high
winds, but as long as ten days here without rain is a rare event. Flowers
on and off during the year, and especially well following heavy rains
after a dry spell.
P. volubilis is a fast-growing woody vine that attains a considerable
height (10 metres/40 feet). It requires a very sturdy support to grow on,
either an open-leaved tree or a strong trellis, arbor, or high pergola
and is happiest in full sun for at least half the day. Some in these
islands also grow Petrea on banks. Normally is blue-flowered, but there
is also a white-flowering variety (v. albiflora). A lovely flowering
vine, and well-worth a try if the nursery doesn't want too many escudos
for it.
Warm regards.
William Glover
**********************
William Glover
Mango Corners, Jones Estate
NEVIS, West Indies (Antilles)
wmglover@caribsurf.com
