Iochroma grandiflora
- To: m*@ucdavis.edu
- Subject: Iochroma grandiflora
- From: K*@aol.com
- Date: Mon, 22 May 2000 09:38:28 EDT
All:
At the Strybing Arboretum and botanical gardens yesterday in San Francisco,
in the glaring sunshine and 90F heat, I came across a tree(or at least large
shrub)-sized specimen of the subject plant. It was in an area that also had
a number of tree-sized specimens of Brugmansia sanguinea, among others.
Admittedly, the weather was an aberration for SF, but the plants appeared to
be thriving. Does anyone know the cultural requirements/limitations of this
plant? The foliage and habit very much resembled that of the Brugmansias
with which it was planted, but the flowers were smaller and blue in color,
something like a large, tubular Solanum. Also came across a specimen labeled
Brugmansia "Frosty Pink," but the foliage was different from any Brugmansia
I've seen. It was hairy and rugose. Anyone familiar with "Frosty Pink" out
there? I also noted that they were openly growing a rather wild-looking
variety of Papaver somniferum in the entrance garden, and I found several
varieties of P. somniferum plants in a local nursery. I've long grown them
in my garden, but I seem to recall a discussion we had some while back that
confirmed that the plants are illegal in California. Any comments? Thanks.
Kurt Mize
Stockton, California
USDA Zone 9