Re: Trees for Medit. area

Charles,
Tabebuia chrysotricha is perfectly hardy here in
coastal northern California, where it and T.
impetiginosa both survived the 1990 freeze,
approaching 14F out in Walnut Creek at the Ruth
Bancroft Garden.  The trees there were fine, while the
Chorisia speciosa was heavily damaged.  All these need
while young is regular water, fertilizer and looking
after, and do seem to benefit from the warmest and
least windy spot you can give them, especially as the
flowers last longer out of the wind.  The branch
structure is rather irregular, so some initial pruning
to shape and eliminate crossed branches may be useful.
 If you don't feel like waiting, San Marcos Growers in
Santa Barbara usually has beautiful full specimens in
24 inch box size that will be covered in bloom this
spring, and already 10 to 12 foot tall.  I would
expect that this tree and T. impetiginosa would do
very well in San Luis Obispo, as long as they get
regular water and are not planted in wind tunnel parts
of town.

Cussonia paniculata can be slow to gain height, but C.
spicata grows like a weed if it gets sufficient water
and fertilizer.  My plants can easily put on 3 feet of
trunk a year, and they don't get much direct water now
that they are large.  Feed and water yours more often,
and you should be rewarded with faster growth.  I find
that C. spicata is quite happy in shade, while C.
paniculata looks better in full sun.





		
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