Tropicals & Tender Perennials: July Blooms, 1 by

wrote:
H. nicholsonae was a vigorous grower until last fall when it stopped growing and the leaves went pale and lost density. It hasn't grown at all since last summer, but it hasn't died either. I don't know whether I should be nurturing it or not, but out popped this umbel of flowers a few weeks ago, and this past weekend they opened - well, three of the nine buds opened. The rest never did, and tonight when I went to look at it, the ones that had been opened were closing, and when I turned the plant around to look, the whole peduncle fell off. They had an absolutely lovely scent all night long whlie they were opened. I'm assuming that this umbel of flowers is the plant's last ditch effort at propogating before it bites the dust, because it just looks so unhappy. But at least I got to enjoy them. And I have a new cutting on the way soon.

Christine