...Even in its native homeland, the species remains uncommon, and most
Australians have never even heard of it!.. Now, the Bat-Wing Coral tree is
likely my all-time favorite small growing flowering tree in existence. There
are not enough superlative adjectives I know to properly and adequately
describe it. Imagine closely packed long-lobed blue-green bat wings in groups of
three on long thin stems which actually rather flutter in a breeze...
Q: I am concentrating on adding more fragrance to my garden. I've
had great success growing gardenias and I have many different varieties, but
their flowers are all white, and I would like to add some colors to my
garden too. Are there any gardenias available in different colors? I live in
Waipio Acres, Hawaii.
A: Meet the very rare and highly fragrant, tropical Gardenia tubifera Kula or Golden gardenia. Kula flowers change color as
they mature, which is a unique feature! Kula flowers start out as cream,
then change to yellow and finally to a beautiful gold. In addition to the
spectacular flowers, this gardenia also has beautiful, leathery, deep green
foliage.
This is a slow-growing and compact plant. Like all the other members in
the Gardenia family, the Golden gardenia will do best in an acidic,
well-drained, and fertile soil. It will appreciate a good deal of direct sunlight but
will be very happy if provided with midday and afternoon shade. As with with
gardenias, the more sunlight the more flowers.
It will eventually grow into a rounded shrub if left unpruned, but also
can be trained into a small tree, maintainable to a height of under 7-8
feet. Blooms will appear from spring onward. Prune after flowering, this will
encourage more flowers in a few months.
Gardeners living in colder areas, do not fret. Gardenias make perfect
container plants and can be grown indoors in colder climates. Just be sure to
provide high light when bringing them indoors.
The fragrance and changing colors of a Gardenia Kula is unforgettable.
They are most fragrant near sunset and during early evening hours. Plant them
near walks and patios where their lovely fragrance can be enjoyed. This
rare tropical Gardenia is sure to be a conversation piece in any garden.
Great collector's plant!
Q: I am interested in a Strawberry Tree... does this tree produce
fruit while still small or do I have to wait until it is large before it
produces? Should I fertilize it so it produces sooner? I ask because my garden
is not large and I prefer to keep my fruit growing trees in a smaller size.
Also, how big is the fruit and does it have a seed?
A: Strawberry Tree, Muntingia Calabura, is one of those fascinating fruit trees that starts
flowering and fruiting in small size. We have plants growing in 1 gal
containers that already have flowers. This tree is nearly year-round producer
providing warm conditions. It is a fast grower, although a compact tree when
mature, and can be trimmed to desirable size without affecting production.
Muntingia fruit is one of our favorites. It is super sweet and juicy,
and the seeds are tiny small, not bigger than the strawberry seeds, so you
don't have to spit them out. The fruit size normally about 1/2 inch, but we have
a tree in our garden that produces almost cherry-size fruit! See picture
above. The secret is, good watering and using fruit booster - SUNSHINE honey micro-element supplement. We also fertilize our fruit
trees using Fruit Festival and Mango-Food fertilizers.
Date: 3 Apr 2019
Featured plant. Acacia sphaerocephala - Bulls-Horn Acacia
The name of this cool unusual tree comes from the shape of the thorns
which do indeed resemble the horns of a bull! The tree has a strong, symbiotic
relationship with a species of an ant, Pseudomyrmex sphaerocephala for
which it is the obligate habitat. The ants act as caretakers for the tree,
and clear the ground and keep it free of any other plants and even prune
surrounding branches of other trees that threaten to outshade the acacia. Without
the protection of the ant colony, the acacia tree would fall vulnerable to
chewing insects such as beetles or caterpillars, and surrounding trees and
shrubs would quickly outcompete the acacia without the maintenance work of the
ants to keep the tree safe.
Rare Amorphophallus ralative, Typhonium venosum (Sauromatum venosum), is
a common shade-loving house or garden plant from temperate and tropical
Africa and Asia. This plant is also known as the Voodoo Bulb because of its
ability to flower from a corm without soil and water. Tuberous perennial with
solitary, segmented round leaf and strange, arum-like flower. Rare collectable,
it is a showy exotic container plant.
Typhonium grows to around 20 inches tall from an underground corm. A
large corm can spawn multiple new corms. Inflorescences emerge before the
leaves. An inflorescence has a purplish-brown-spotted, yellowish spathe and a
purplish-brown spadix which emit a strong odor perceived as similar to cow
manure, rotting flesh, or a dirty wet dog, depending on who smells the
inflorescence ;) The odor lasts only a day and attracts carrion-feeding insects which can
pollinate this plant.
Plants we have in stock, have tubers 1-2"in diameter. The plant goes
dormant in winter and starts sprouting in March-April. Keep soil slightly
moist but not wet, and wait for the magic leaf to pop up... The plant should
flower within a year or two.
