Archive | October 2012

From the rainforest to the garden -Tecomanthe hillii

Oct17

Tecomanthe in bloom

 

 

 

 

 

Tecomanthe hillii is commonly known as Tecomanthe, Pink Trumpet vine or Fraser Island creeper

Several outstanding flowered climbers come from the rainforests of Queensland.  One of the most gorgeous but least known in cultivation is the pink trumpet vine, or Fraser Island creeper Tecomanthe hillii.

This is a very well-behaved member of the Bignoniaceae family which has given the world so many beautiful climbing plants.  Unlike its cousins the pandoreas, or the showy Orange Trumpet Creeper (Pyrostegia venusta ), or that other well-known trumpet creeper Campsis radicans (aka as Cow-itch or Hummingbird vine), Tecomanthe doesn’t grow too large or rampage too vigorously.  It puts out only a few new twining stems each year and the small compound leaves with their five neat, shiny leaflets provide a light cover to fences, pergolas and other upright or horizontal supports.  This makes it ideal for places where a denser, more vigorous vine would not be suitable.

The dusky pink bell-shaped flowers are born in tight clusters, in spring.  Flowering lasts several weeks and the climber still looks tidy and attractive all year even when not in flower.

Tecomanthe is strictly a sub-topical plant but does well at higher, cooler altitudes in the tropics, subtropics and any place where cool-season temperatures don’t go below 32°F/0°C.  Though it will tolerate these low temperatures for brief periods during its dormancy period, it does best where cool season temperatures are over 59°F/15°C.  It grows well in light shade but will flower better if given lots of morning sun.

Though not too fussy about soils, this climber does best in a light, sandy loam that contains plenty of humus.  It won’t thrive in heavy clay and needs good drainage.  Water regularly in dry weather, once established.  This is a plant from a region where summers are warm and very wet and winters/springs are usually dry and cool, so take this into account when developing a watering regime. It will tolerate up to 90 days of drought; too much rain in late winter/spring tends to diminish flowering.  Fertilizing is not really necessary if the soil is good; adding compost around the roots in early summer will give it an annual boost.  If you want to promote better bud development use a light dose of a fertiliser high in phosphorus in late summer/autumn.  Pruning is not necessary unless you want to restrict the growing tendrils.  Mulch lightly with organic material in spring.

Tecomanthe will do well in the pot because of its non-vigorous growth habit.  Water regularly but sparingly and feed with a foliar fertilizer once every six weeks or so during summer.  Don’t overwater or feed in winter.

If you are looking for an attractive and unusual pink-flowering climbing plant then Tecomanthe – or Pink Trumpet Vine – is one that will get all your garden-loving friends and neighbours asking where you found such a treasure!

 

 

 

 

 

TOP TEN AUSTRALIAN FLOWERING TREES

Oct9

What always looks gorgeous without any effort?  An Australian garden tree, that’s what!

Any tree in the home garden needs to be small and well-behaved, unless you have at least half an acre.  Australia, land of mighty gum trees and giant rainforest species, surprisingly produces many beautiful small trees that are perfect for home gardens all around the world because they tolerate a range of conditions.

These trees also bear splendidly large and colorful flowers.  I’ve grown most of them over the years and here is my Top Ten selection –  chosen for their beauty, toughness and good garden behavior.

Ivory Curl

Ivory Curl (Buckinghamia celsissima) – a wonderful home garden tree that can grow to 8 – 10 metres but takes many years to get that big.  Grows well (but more slowly) in poor soils and tolerates light frosts and temperatures down to zero (Celsius)/32 °F for short periods once established.  Tolerant of heavy rain and long dry periods. Cut back after flowering to maintain good shape.

Callistemon

Callistemon  (Melaleuca viminalis) –  The prettiest of the callistemons because of its willow-like dropping branches and generous flowering for much of the year.  Tolerates most conditions from water-logging to drought.  Comes in various shades of red and pink as well as cream.  Don’t prune except to get rid of untidy branches.

Golden Penda

Golden Penda (Xanthostemon chrysanthus) – A tropical tree which will tolerate light frost and short periods of temperatures down to zero (Celsius)/32 °F.  Likes plenty of water in summer but will tolerate long, dry periods in winter and spring.  Attractive foliage and) shape year round as well as big, fluffy yellow flowers.

Corymbia “Summer Red”

Flowering gum – The hybrid cultivars Corymbia “Summer Red” and “Summer Beauty” are the best for home gardens because of their small size and large, gorgeous, bird-attracting red or pink flowers.  They tolerate most conditions from zero (Celsius)/32 °F temperatures for short periods to prolonged heavy rainfall and drought.

Blueberry Ash “Prima Donna”

Blueberry ash (Elaeocarpus reticulatus) – A very tough small tree or large shrub which bears masses of tiny fringed pink or white flowers, like ballerina skirts or lampshades. The pink-flowering “Prima Donna” is best-known to gardeners.  Can grow to 15m but is best if kept cut back to maintain density.  Tolerates most conditions except extreme cold, heat or aridity.

Lemon Myrtle

Lemon myrtle (Backhousia citriodora) – My signature plant – a small tree or large shrub with fragrant lemon-scented leaves that are marvelous as a food flavoring, especially in Thai dishes.  Makes a good lemonade too, or liqueur.  Bears large heads of creamy flowers.  Can be trained to tree size and shape (with single trunk), and pleaches well.  Needs a warm climate (warm-temperate to tropics) and plenty of water but will tolerate short periods of low temperatures (down to zero Celsius/32 °F), and drought to about 90 days if in good, well-mulched soil.  Prune well after flowering.

Wheel-of-Fire

Wheel-of-fire (Stenocarpus sinuatus) – Another tough Queensland tree with interesting-shaped leaves, a columnar habit and lovely red flowers that are born well inside the foliage.  Tolerates the same sort of conditions as other trees in this article and is best  tip-pruned regularly when young to make it more bushy and compact.

Australian Flame Tree

Kurrajongs (Brachychiton species). – The gorgeous scarlet-flowered Flame Tree (B. acerifolius) is the best-known of these but grows rather too large for the average garden.  The lesser known B. discolor (pink flowers) and B. bidwillii (crimson) are smaller trees when grown in full sun and regularly pruned to control height and promote bushiness when young.  The latter, in particular, has proved popular in the southern United States.  All are tough trees that will grow in sun or shade but flower best in full sun.

Fruit and flower of Syzygium australe

Lilly pillies (Syzygium australe, smithii,  luehmanni and tierneyanum) – These are marvelous home-garden trees for most climates (except the coldest and driest) because they tolerate such a range of soils and conditions and need little care.  Riberry (S.lueuhmannii) is the most attractive because of its weeping foliage habit – it can grow quite large where underground water is available but is easy to control if regularly pruned when young.  All the garden-friendly lilly pillies have attractive year round foliage, exquisite new growth in shades of pink, bronze and copper (depending on species), delightful flowers and colorful fruit.  They are good hedging trees, too.  In some countries the many varieties of S. australe are subject to psyllid attack that blisters the leaves but doesn’t injure the tree.  If you want an easy-care garden with lots of shrubbery, team these trees with lilly pilly shrubs such as “Cascade” (a hybrid of S. leuhmanni and S.wilsonii) and blue lilly pilly (S.oleosum) which has fragrant leaves.

Australian White Oak

Australian White Oak (Grevillea baileyana) – This is a very handsome small tree for warm temperate to tropical climates.  The large, shiny leaves are lobed when young and have bronze undersides which glow brilliantly when tossed by the wind.  The long white flower spikes are like those of the Ivory Curl Tree.  It grows in most soils and likes regular watering, but will tolerate drought for up to 90 days.

All these trees give of their best when given good drainage, regular watering, moderate pruning for shape and the tender loving care of the home garden.  However, they will do perfectly well without any attention at all once established.  And if you have any questions about one of these lovely trees, contact me through this site or email me at jrlakemedia@iprimus.com.au.