Tropicals & Tender Perennials: Vulcanicola !, 1 by Kell

Kell wrote:
The pictures of that seller make all his blooms look so incredible. He must have such a fantastic camera and he sure knows how to take pictures. Most of his plants for sale I have seen at the San Francisco Botanical Garden at Strybing Arboretum. One Vulcanicola there that I found this last year, was virused in the Chilean garden. I have noticed in the past many of his plants offered on ebay were at the Arboretum sales too.

In person, the blooms are not very dramatic like other brugs at all. And they are quite small.

At any rate, his bloom pictures look just like those of the tree at the Arboretum and the tree is clearly labeled Vulcanicola, actually Volcanicola, so I assume it really is. Being no expert myself, I do trust the Arboretum. It is full of such rare plants. I think I will see if Don Mahoney, horticulture manager at Strybing Arboretum, knows the origins of their specimen. He may be able to enlighten us. He is a plant genius. I will also ask about their spelling of it.

I grew a very similar tree several years ago and it became virused or was virused when I bought it and I didn't know. It only showed in the summer months during heat spells. It was very nice but not spectacular in the usual gaudy brugmansia way. Actually it bloomed in good taste. LOL Personally I have found these are hard to keep and not get virused. I have heard similar woes from other growers.