Re: Sparmannia africana
I can recommend the plant even further; in Berkeley, California it remains in
bloom about 10 months of the year. I have several planted as a screen, and it
reaches up to my second floor bathorom window (about 20 ft), where you can see
the blossoms at eye level nearly all year long. The leaves, being very furry
and bright green, are quite nice to look at. In our freeze of last year (about
25 degrees F, with a very dry wind), it showed no signs of damage.
Interestingly, although it produces seed (bubmblebees love it), I have never
observed any seedlings beneath it, or at the local arboretum, where it is also
grown. I wonder what it requires for germination.
Dave commenteted on the transparent quality of the leaves - mine defintiely
produces heavy shade beneath it, but then again , it is quite tall. Another
great feature, it can grow 18 feet in a year. It seems to do well both on
abundant and little water. I have often wondered what kind of rainfall occurs
in its natural habitat.
> Bill wrote:
>
> >Let me second that recommendation for this wonderful plant. Few people ever
> >give the blossoms a close look...but they are surely among the most
> >beautiful on any plant. I planted mine about 15 years ago and in the great
> >freeze is was zapped to the ground. It took awhile but it came roaring back
> >and is now 12 ft but can be kept half that size. I've seen the other
> forms at Kirstenbosch but I do not think they are available in the US. UCSC
> Arboretum introduced them here.
So what do the "other forms" look like?
David Poole wrote:
> There's no doubt as to this plant's usefulness and it would make a
> fairly manageable, small shade tree in Nan's garden. Even though the
> leaves are very large, the appear to have an almost semi-transparent
> quality that allows some light to penetrate. The flowers are
> wonderful creations, being purest white with a very prominent central
> boss of bright yellow stamens that are tipped with purple. The fun
> bit is that they are sensitive to the touch and move sideways when
> prodded.
>
> Down here it is very hardy, rarely losing a leaf in winter and often
> flowering from November to April or even May.
