Re: Delonix and Jacaranda

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Both of these are splendid in Perth, so long as the Delonix can be protected from cold (we have cold winds, though not quite frosts, being on the ocean) for the first year or so. After that they seem to flourish. There is a magnificent Delonix at the corner of our block, and another planted as a street tree. I've always yearned for one but our yard is just not adequate - they have an enormous spread when mature.  Jacaranda are quite specacular and the purple spashes can be seen throughout the suburbs.

Another specacular summer-blooming tree popular here is the Brachychiton acerifolium or Flame Tree native to New South Wales and Queensland. It is a more manageable size for smaller gardens. I don't know whether it is available in California.

Beverly

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Julius and Beverly Elischer
Perth, Western Australia
Ph. +61 8 9386 5244
   

Sorry about the delay in coming back to this one. Could you tell us how well the Delonix flowers & when ? Capetowns climate is pretty well analogous with yours, though I understand you're a degree or so warmer in all seasons. Hopefully what works for you will do just as well for me.

Brachychiton acerifolium works well here as well, especially if you're in a wind sheltered area. I've also got a few of the B.populneous - your South Australian Kurrajong - which is slow growing but exceptionally drought hardy & tough.

What really excited me this season was flowering the Queensland fire wheel tree -Stenocarpus sinuatus - for the first time, after a 10 year wait. A tropical species again but one I think well worth it as far as its general drought hardiness goes. Exceptionally beautiful in flower.

It would appear a few people find my observations on flowering of Jacaranda & Bougainvillea as related to summer & winter rainfall doubtful. My observation is they can & will flower OK in a winter rain area but for full luxuriance of flower they never do so well as in a summer rain area with a winter dry spell. I think David Feix also pointed out how a true tropical 4 season rainfall doesn't suit them as well. I remember once doing a run up the east coast of Australia from Sydney ( 4 season rain ) to Rockhampton ( Summer rains, sitting right on the Tropic of Capricorn ). both the Jacarandas & Bougs. were in flower & I was able to study them in peoples gardens all the way up. My observations were subjective I know but I could see a direct correlation between the mass of flowering & the extent of the hot, dry winter. In my experience Bougs. in particular respond & flower better in a hard, dry position & if treated too beningly tend to produce a lot of green growth with less flower. I well remember, while doing my apprenticeship in an ornamental display house, neglecting to water 2 large tubs of Bougs. , which were the gardens pride & joy, to the extent where they dropped 90% of their leaves. After being soundly abused for this I began the watering again & within weeks they produced a mass show of flowers as they'd never had before. After that the drying period was incorporated into the greenhouse management program.

Regards

Glenn Breayley. Ragnarok & Valhalla Research.
POBox 26158, Hout Bay, 7872, Capetown, South Africa
Ph/Fax SA 021 7904253 E-mail v*@iafrica.com
Wholesale nurseryman & Tillandsia specialist wholesale & retail grower.