Hi,
I just returned from the store with a Gold Star Esperanza. I've been reading about it in the Texas Gardening forum and now I'm thinking that I should take it back. Has anyone ever had any success with growing it in zone 7b,l north Dallas? If so, does it really get as big in zone 7b as it does in Houston or San Antonio. It's beautiful but I I wasn't looking for something enormous.
Thanks,
Ellen
Gold Star Esperanza in Zone 7b
Ellen, it won't be enormous, I wish, because it dies to the ground every winter even in zone 8.
It you plant it outside you will have to mulch it very heavily or it won't make it through the winter.
I pile a good 3 inches of mulch around the root zone after I cut it back in the fall, and it makes it.
You could also keep it potted and bring it in during freezes.
Josephine.
I have one and it's come back faithfully every year, but it's always the LAST thing to show any signs of life and freaks me out every year! Mine gets about 4' tall and has tons and tons of gorgeous blooms on it. I also cut mine back in the fall and pile the mulch on thick, as well as cover it with some leaves. It does have an extensive root system so be careful and don't plant it too close to your foundation.
Thank you so much for your help, and may I ask one more thing? Do you plant it in all day sun or can it be planted in part shade?
Ellen
I have mine planted in mostly full sun. It gets shade from a big oak tree for part of the morning (until about 11am), but then it's in full blazing hot sun.
Mine dies to the ground in every winter too.
Half of mine are in full sun, other in part shade half of the day. Doing great. The nice thing is that I have pruned them heavily and they do fine. I keep them about 2-3 feet tall. They've just started blooming here and will go into the Fall. Good luck with yours! Janet
Bariolio, How often do you need to prune to keep it at 2-3 feet? Mine gets up to 6 ft every year and swallows everything around it.I was always afraid to prune it becasue I was afraid of losing blooms.
I guess I cut them back to around 8-12 inches in the winter and as they grow, I lop off the branches if they get too tall, to a few inches under where I want them. Not very scientific! I do probably lose some blooms but there are still plenty. I have 3 plants on each side of my front bed, planted about 2 feet apart. They sit in front of a hedge kept pruned (by hubby) around 3 feet high. If there are lateral branches that I want gone, zap! My mother-in-law taught me to not be afraid of pruning! In the South, things tend to grow back unless they are very picky or are struggling to begin with. BUT. I am no expert on this plant! This is just what I do in W Houston and it has worked out for me so far for the 3-4 years we've had them... Janet
bariolio, Thanks for the response. I am a fraidy cat about pruning while a plant is growing. I'm going to prune things a lot more this year to keep things tidy and in bounds...no more branches reaching out to snag small pets!
Has anyone had any success starting Esperanza from seed? I have been watching a couple of these plants at a car wash half a mile from my house for about 5 years. It has put on an amazing show for years. It gets absolutely no care and only rainwater. It was planted around a water/rock feature but the guy who bought the car wash a few years ago turned off the water feature and does no upkeep, weeds waist high, but the Esperanza has come back every year -- except this year. I guess the freeze killed it. I collected seed from it but none germinated. Also received seed from the seed swap and had no success with it either.
The Golden Star Esperanza is shorter than the regular Esperanza. Technically, it's a hybrid, so the seeds are not reliable to produce the shorter version if you grow from seed. The best way to propagate them is by cuttings.
I have grown the regular Esperanza from seed and from cuttings they are both easy, but not very winter hardy.
Glenna you are in luck....I winter sowed a few and will share my wee seedlings with you. Bring you some Sunday!
Fantastic, Sheila. Thanks. Lowe's in Cleburne kept telling me they would be getting Esperanza but none so far. I absolutely love that plant.
Mine is 'yellow bells'.