Re: Brachychiton? Re: Another mystery tree

Diane,
I think that the overall heat load may also be a
trigger for the amount of bloom for Brachychiton
acerifolius, as well as the other irregular blooming
Brachychitons.  Here in the San Francisco Bay Area, B.
acerifolia is rather rare, but I have seen it bloom in
the more inland, (and therefore hotter), locations,
such as in Hayward, Ca., near to the city hall. 
Another tree of approximately the same age in Oakland,
at the Dry Garden Nursery has never bloomed, and it is
cooler in general in Oakland/Berkeley than in Hayward,
especially in the summer.
I saw many trees of this same size,(about 25 to 30
feet tall), in bloom in Marbella, Spain, while
traveling this summer, and the climate there is much
warmer than the Bay Area.  The minimum night time
temps in summer are much more similar to southern
California's inland valleys, than coastal Bay Area
locations.  I suspect that the 10F difference in
summer night time lows may account for the shy
blooming here, as it is generally never above 56F at
night here, even in the height of summer.  
I would suspect that you too have cool night time
temps, even in your greenhouse, which may be
inhibiting bloom.  Another factor could be the lower
light intensities during winter at your latitude, when
the flower buds would start forming.  They also bloom
well in subtropical desert climates, ( I saw this tree
growing in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, but wasn't there in
blooming season).
David Feix, Berkeley, California







- Julius & Beverly Elischer <elischer@iinet.net.au>
wrote:
> Peter and Margaret Moir wrote:
> 
> > Diane,
> >
> > This is my first foray into the medit plants
> forum, but since we're still on
> > the subject of the Brachychiton [I was about to
> email you with the
> > brachychiton suggestion when I saw you had already
> got there!] I thought I
> > would throw in my two bob's worth. The
> Brachychiton will flower even in
> > climates which receive  heavy winter and spring
> rainfall such as here in the
> > South West of Western Australia. The flowering is
> unpredictable every where,
> > even in it's native habitat. Sometimes half the
> tree is lit up with blossom
> > while the other half is bare!
> >
> > I think the non-flowering must be due to something
> other than the winter
> > wet. But I wouldn't give up hope!
> >
> > Cheers, Margaret
> 
> I was just about to write the same thing. Here in
> Perth, W.A., they are splendid
> after our wet winters - but not always.
> 
> Beverly
> 
> 
> --
> Beverly Elischer
> Perth, Western Australia
> Ph. +61 8 9386 5244
> 


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