Hummingbird and Butterfly Gardening: Hummingbird SUPERPLANT #6, 1 by HBJoe

HBJoe wrote:
This Bouvardia is available from Logees (Ct.) and Plant Delights Nursery (NC). Now I am going to throw what some might perceive as a curve ball. I have also seen Bouvardia ternifolia thriving in some of the higher elevation (2,500 - 4,000 ft.)canyons of Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. For all I can tell, it appears to be the same plant as the one observed so frequently in Costa Rica and around Vera Cruz, Mexico. The main difference is that this plant is described by many plant journals as being native to our South-western states and it endures some very hot and arid climate. My thinking is that we may have two plants of the same genus and species, but a different sub-species. I am not a taxonomist, so if someone can help me out please go for it. Both plants can best be propagated by cuttings. the seeds are extremely tiny and difficult to handle. Apparently they are dispersed with ease by wind currents. My suggestion is to obtain healthy stock from either Logees or Olant Delights Nursery. Another possibility might be Diane's Seeds or Desert Survivors of Az. Plant Delights Nursery indicates that their Bouvardia t. can tolerate 7b winters. I live in 7b and every time I left plants out for the entire winter, they did not survive. Here is another shot of this delightful plant.