Dombeya wallichii, Dombeya x cayeuxii

The plant produces beautiful pink clusters of hydrangea-like fragrant flowers that last for over 1 month.

Deep pink flowers up to 1.5 inches across subtended by densely pubescent bracts 2.5 inches long. This is a fast growing medium size multi-stem bush that can be also trained into a standard. As a tree, it can grow to 15 ft in height but it can be kept smaller with some trimming. Trimming should be done after the flowers are gone in the spring until mid-September. The old flowers remain on the plant for a long time. Cleaning up the dry flower heads is advisable for a neat appearance. You can trim it pretty much as far back as is necessary without deforming the tree. It is a strong grower and even though it is possible to grow it in a container for many years. Flowers autumn to spring. In winter, flowers cover the whole big shrub - very inmpressive! Flowers of this spectacular winter bloomer attract lots of bees and butterflies.

Dombeya x cayeuxii -probably a garden hybrid of Dombeya burgessiae X Dombeya wallichii. The genus Dombeya is named after Joseph Dombey, an 18th-century French botanist, doctor, and explorer. The species is named after Henri Cayeux, a horticulturist, responsible for many hybrids and new cultivars, who is also supposed to have created this one.

Similar plants:

• Dombeya burgessiae (Pink Wild Pear, Pink Dombeya, Tropical Hydrangea)
• Dombeya cacuminum (Strawberry Snowball Tree)
• Dombeya cymosa (Natal Dombeya)
• Dombeya elegans (Pink Cloud, Mahot Rose)
• Dombeya rotundifolia (Wild Pear)
• Dombeya x seminole (Tropical Rose Hydrangea)