A new vine blooms & is surprising.

	Dear Planters,				24 July 1999

	I have become a sucker for vines since I have entirely filled
	1.5 city lots with trees and shrubs.  About five years ago I
	bought a bignoneaceous vine with a name like PITHYCOCTENIUM.  No
	species was indicated and I have long lost the label.  I'm sure
	I bought it at a Strybing sale.

	I planted it on the s/w corner of my house where all the
	climbing roses are and some double clematis.  It has thrived,
	grown quickly and apparently survived this winter when I lost
	many climbing hydrangeas and all my many bomareas.

	Yesterday Vanessa was over to work on a design and mentioned
	that some strange trumpet vine was in bloom on my black roof
	two and 1/2 stories above the ground.  I had never seen it
	bloom and expected the same performance I got from Podranea
	ricosoliana[sp.] (Pt. St. John's Creeper) which lived 15 years and
	grew like a weed and never considered blooming or my 28 year old
	veil of Macfadyena unguis-cati which has never bloomed either.

	We she went out and took a large cutting to propagate and it
	has mid-sized trumpets of creamy white with its mouth and throat
	a gorgeous butter yellow.  The 1 foot cutting had 80 buds on it
	so I guess it's going to put on a show.

	Anyone know this oddity--its correct name--requirements--I have
	given it complete neglect.  By the way it has those creeping fingers
	like "Cat's Claw" and "Red Trumpet Vine" and a slight not especially
	pleasant scent.  It is goooorgeouuuus.  It's so bizarre owning a
	garden of rarities which you can't see from indoors and can't reach
	with your wheelchair.  I missed a major bloom of Rose 'Paul's
	Lemon Pillar', another of 'Adelaide d'Orleans' and my wonderful
	new hybrid hedychium from Sta. Cruz.  The pits.

	Praying for the day I can see my Pithycoctenium on the vine

	I remain, as always

	Michael D. Barclay


Michael D. Barclay, Really Special Plants & Gardens, Kensington, CA
Cal Hort Council
opga@wenet.net   Growing 2,000 species fifteen miles from the Golden Gate!
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