Re: Gardenia thunbergia
Tim Longville wrote:
>
> Someone's recently convinced me to try this in the UK - 'should be
> perfectly hardy in a warm shady corner in a sheltered seaside garden'
> - not that I've tried my poor wee plant (all of a foot high) in the
> inhospitable great outdoors as yet. Now, Dave, tell us that it grows
> to be a tree in Torquay and flowers 12 months of the year?!
>
> Tim Longville
Dear Tim
I grew some of these from seed a three or four years ago and planted
three out against an east facing wall (this is the warmest position in
these parts as it faces the Mediterranean which is about 40 miles away).
They were all killed more or less outright in a normal winter here. To
give some idea of what this means climatically; there are two plants of
Plumbago capensis on the same wall, in some winters the woody framework
survives and in others they are killed to the ground but always regrow
vigorously in the spring. I have two left in pots which are over
wintered in the garage and I think I will stick to this! Incidentally I
have yet to see any flowers after four years, I have been told on good
authority that they should flower at five years of age.
--
Gordon Walker
Cat Bells
Chemin de Ferrals
11170 Villespy
France
