I live in Columbia, SC - zone 8 - and we had one the hottest summers on record. I have two brugs that have bloomed their heads off in the past. They usually put on their shows around September - October. This year I didn't have blooms opening until this past week (1st week in Nov), and of course wouldn't you know it...we have an early freeze. The white Brug's blooms haven't even opened yet. My question - can excessive heat stunt them, so they don't bloom when they are supposed to? Thanks for any advice.
Does Excessive Heat Prevent a Brug from Blooming in the Fall
In very hot weather, many Brugs will go dormant. Unlike their winter dormancy, they don't lose their leaves. I was puzzled the first time my Brugs went dormant. I watered and fertilized, but they just sat there. Once it begins to cool down, they will come out of dormancy, but it pushes their fall flush back. The only solution is to find some of the cultivars that don't seem to mind the heat as much.
This link quickly became a list of Brugs that can handle the heat and still bloom:
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/797671/
The heat definatly affects them. mine love to load down with blooms just before frosts. Shame the frost killed most before i saw the blooms. maybe next year.
Thanks everybody for the good information. I figured the heat affected mine. Oh btw, my yellow one is blooming like a champ even after the frost we had bit the tops leaves.