Re: Sub-tropical help

--- Doxiadis/Malefakis <gastouri@ker.forthnet.gr>
wrote:
> Since we're all sort of off medit-plants these days,
> I might as well get my questions in:

I like to think that all plants being grown in
mediterannean climates are also on topic for this
group :).  You might try posing this question to the
Gardenweb.com forum on tropicals, and get more info
from people in Florida or along the east coast who
grow some of these particular plants, and just how
hardy they are.

> 1. Brunfelsia nitida.  I smuggled a small Logee
> plant to Greece in my carry-on last Spring.  Since
> then it has quadrupled in size and been promoted to
> larger pots twice.  It flowered in early October and
> smells heavenly.  Question:  can I risk letting it
> overwinter outdoors in a sheltered courtyard?  We   
> only have a couple or so frosts on a normal winter, 
> and they don't penetrate to this area.

This Brunfelsia originates in Cuba, I haven't grown
this one myself.  I would think it safe to locate as
you propose.  B. pauciflora 'Floribunda'/'Floribunda
Compacta' and my personal favorite B. pauciflora
'Macrantha' all do well here in Berkeley, if regularly
fed and watered.  My B. 'Macrantha' is in full bloom
right now, and I love the large, (3" dia.) purplish
blue flowers, but no scent.  B. americana, a very
fragrant white blooming species which can get small
tree sized, can also be grown outdoors here.  All
would probably appreciate some protection from winter
frost and winds and summer drying winds to do well,
and a humus rich soil on the acidic side.

> 2. Aglaia odorata and Cestrum diurnum. (Also
> transported here in my carry-on at the same time). 
> Did very well all summer, thrived and flowered. 
> Should I plant them in the ground now, or wait till
> Spring, or not at all? 

I couldn't find a reference to Aglaia, and am not
familiar with it.  What does it look like?  You don't
by chance mean an Aglaonema?
 
> Cestrum nocturnum does very well in the ground here,
 > but diurnum is unheard of.

I also am not familiar with this species of Cestrum,
but all of the other species seem to handle the
occasional frosts of our USDA zone 9/10 climate just
fine. Cestrum aurantiacum and C. nocturnum are the
most common here.  I prefer C. elegans, with its 4
different color forms, (dark red/dark orange-red, dark
pink and light pink), and followed by showy ornamental
fruit, and C. newellii, also deep red flowers, with
red tinged foliage and showy purplish berries, are all
great shrubs here in the bay area, almost never
without bloom.  They are unfortunately not fragrant,
but very attractive to hummingbirds.  All will survive
low temperatures down to 20F, but may lose top growth
below 25F.

> 3.Tibouchina urvilleana 'Edwards'.  Also from Logee,
> also transported here in the same manner,  two
> Springs ago.  It survived one winter outdoors but
> hasn't prospered...grown in size but losing its
> leaves to a drying-out from the periphery inwards. 
> No flowers.  I've had it in a shady spot through the
> summer heat.  Is there anything I can do to help it
> ? or should I give up and leave it to its doom.

Tibouchina urvilleana comes from the coastal sand
dunes and mountains of south east Brazil, in the
states of Rio de Janeiro and Santa Catarina.  It
prefers coastal conditions with humidity, and greatly
resents too much heat and drying winds, and as planted
in south Florida, blooms better in the cooler winter
than hot humid summers.  It thrives in California all
along the coast where it stays above freezing in
winter, and is often in bloom all year long.  Where it
doesn't get too hot or windy, it is best located in
full sun, in hotter drier areas, it will probably need
some shade.  It prefers regular watering and feeding,
and if grown as a container plant, may be drying out
too quickly to sustain flower bud formation, and is
also better in slightly acid soils.  Avoid locating
where subject to hot drying winds, a dappled shaded
courtyard with morning sun would suit it better in hot
dry environments.  It will bloom in a fair amount of
shade, but is a much leggier plant in such conditions.
 It greatly benefits from regular pinching back to
promote bushiness, and protect from frosts.  It
doesn't seem to mind our cool winters at all, still
flowering when night time lows drop down into the high
30's~low 40'sF.  (If you ever saw how this plant looks
after an attack of Santa Ana winds, hot and very dry
fall winds from the interior deserts, in Los Angeles,
as compared to plants in cool foggy San Francisco
neighborhoods, you would understand immediately).  Its
native coastal range in Santa Catarina is very similar
in temperatures to the San Francisco Bay Area,
(perhaps slightly warmer in winter and more year round
rain), many of my favorite bromeliads also come from
this same habitat.

Sorry I wasn't directly familiar with many of your
plants, we tend to only grow those which thrive here
in California, where we don't get sufficient summer
heat  to get many subtropicals to bloom well. 
(Although this past week of 85~90F weather, our
typical last hurrah of Indian Summer weather could
fool you, as it is the exception to the rule).


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