Streptosolen jamesonii - marmalade bush

Hi Laura -

Yes, this is a great shrub - kinda between a shrub and vine as you say.

For those unfamiliar, here is a photo of the flowers:
https://www.anniesannuals.com/signs/s/images/streptosolen_jamesonii_clos.jpg
https://www.anniesannuals.com/signs/s/images/streptosolen_jamesonii_habi.jpg

This is popular, but by no means common here in Berkeley, where gardeners are
fond of planting riotous color combinations of purple and orange!  It does
need space to flop around and mound up, so it is not for any spot.  The
foliage is very handsome and clean looking, sort of shiny and a nice green. 
Not exceptionally drought tolerant, and somewhat tender to real cold.

It is from Ecuador, Peru, and Columbia, introduced into cultivation in the
1840s under the name Browallia jamesonii, which is still seems to go under in
Australia & New Zealand.

Seán A. O'Hara
sean(at)gimcw.org
www.hortulusaptus.com
(ask about mediterranean climate gardening forum)

> I am fond of Streptosolen jamesonii--marmalade bush--it looks very
> similar, but more of a gradiated orange/yellow. It also has that
> funny quality of almost seeming like a climber in early growth but
> becomes a big sprawling shrub, and the flowers are so cheerful. Grows
> fast, which is not always a good thing, but it has been for me--I am
> planting it in areas that need quick coverage.
>
> I don't know the back story on it at all, but I bet one of you does!
>
> Laura,
> Los Angeles
>
>
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