Re: Shade & Thunbergias
Ah Janet,
Good to see that someone else believes in cramming climbers in. I've
always worked on the basis of "why plant one where 7 will do" and in
my tiny little plot, maximization of space has to be one of the prime
factors. I couldn't agree with you more about Thunbergia grandiflora,
it really is a stunning plant especially late on in the year. I've
not tried it down here but used to have a massive specimen which
together with Ipomoea indica took much of the roof area in a 100 foot
greenhouse. Those two slugged it out and the combination of the rich
purplish blue and pale lavender mauve was fabulous. I'm very sorely
tempted to try the white form here although I suspect our dull, cool
wet winter days might do far more damage than the occasional very
light frost. I've got a very large, fan trained Abutilon 'Patrick
Synge' which is rapidly becoming overgrown with Pandorea jasminoides
and is slowly dwindling away. I might just hasten the process by
planting T. grandiflora 'Alba' at it's base and enjoy the ensuing
fight.
I found T. mysorensis more robust but less free in its growth
especially as a young plant. Eventually it grew to about 20 feet and
the very long racemes of oddly shaped, yellow and reddish brown
flowers hanging down from the girders from late summer onwards caused
a great deal of excited comment. I found it to be less forgiving of
cool temperatures and when we temporarily lost the heating due to fuel
freezing in the pipes one night in the winter of 81/82, it was the
first to show distress. It never made a good recovery after that and
was pulled out during the following autumn.
I reckon (but am happy to stand corrected- indeed I'd be delighted to
hear of cool tolerant, high elevation forms) that it really struggles
under 5C and needs constantly warm, moist conditions to really do
well. Certainly my experience is that it grows most vigorously at
temperatures between 22 - 35C with accompanying high humidity and
constant moisture at the root. I consider it to be well and truly
tropical in its requirements and despite my rebellious nature towards
presumed plant hardiness, have never considered it for planting out of
doors even down here. It might be worth you trying it though -
especially if you can find a sheltered spot. It will need lots of
humus incorporated into the soil and appears to prefers slight acidic
conditions.
Dave Poole
TORQUAY UK
http://www.ilsham.demon.co.uk/gardenviews.html
