Jewels of Opar, Fame Flower (Talinum paniculatum)

Nice shot of the whole plant, Dave - I'm glad to see yours are doing well, too :)

Thanks, vols. There is a funny story about these guys, actually.

Firstly, I traded dearly to get some of these seeds (I traded a corkscrew vine plant for a packet of these seeds).

I sowed them in March and carefully set them out in my garden, carefully protecting them and enjoying their foliage.

At the same time (unbeknownst to me) Trish had obtained these same plants from you, and stuck them in her garden. She didn't remember the name of them, and I insisted they were identically to my 'Jewels of Opar'. Indeed, the blooms came and the seedpods arrived, and we were certain. We had the same thing!!

So this picture is of her plants, which are doing better than mine (which are in the main garden, which, as you know, is overrun with weeds).

best,
dave

Aren't they just a really cool plant? The seeds I grew out came from Talinum (her fave plant, hence her DG nickname.) Have you collected any seeds yet? I'm still eyeing mine, trying to figure out when to start harvesting.

Funny what a small world gardening (and DG is).

Yep, my seeds are in! I just hold a plate below the "jewels" and kinda gently squeeze them (ugh, I didn't intend that pun) and the seeds rain right down into the plate!

I planted seeds of this talinum in my cutting garden last spring and WOW! this spring (late spring) found a 2x2 (at least) patch of seedlings from seeds that dropped and wintered over. I live in Z5, northern Ohio, and this plant acts like a hardy annual in my garden. Makes a beautiful cut flower in seed.

wow, good to know, oneroom. I was wondering how mine would do over winter here in the D/FW area of TX.

I have mine in an almost full shade bed because of our intense heat here. Does anyone else grow this one in full sun in Zone 8?

I found my seeds by your very simple description, Dave. TY! I went out with a little bowl and did what you said and VOILE! I had a bowl of teeny seeds in no time. YEA!

Cajun: I'm growing them in full sun here in South/Central TX (8b). They are doing just fine!

dave

Oh ok, thanks, Dave.
Just wanted to be sure.
I'm in the process of planning my garden for next spring,
so I was trying to decide if I needed to move the Jewels ; )

I obtained some of these seeds from Park Seed Co. about 12 years ago and planted them out in my vegetable garden (for lack of full sun in my flower beds). The next year I had many volunteers. Soon I realized that I had better pull out the volunteers, deadhead before setting seed, etc to prevent being overrun. Did not have any plants for many years after that, but was very surprised that last year I still had a couple of seeds sprout! They must remain viable for many years, through all kinds of weather here in Missouri.

Hi there, delighted to find that there is such a big fan club of this plant. We snapped ours up at Home Depot in October, but have never seen them again, so it was useful to read advice on how to get the seeds out. Ours are a variegated variety - anyone else got this?

Bit concerned about the 1 negative comment re this plant spreading, but I think we'll take the risk, just because it's such a pretty plant! We live in zone 10a, south Florida and ours are doing wonderfully. So nice to have something *different* in the yard.

I got one from Talinum called Kingwood Gold. Love the plant, but think it is gone now. Thought the seeds would germinate in a pot I brought in, but nothing is happening. Oh well, maybe one will surprise me in the garden this summer. Mine looks just like yours Dave, and I love the great contrast it provides in the flower bed.

My mistake..I got mine as a bonus from GlassHouseWorks and talinum told me what it was. Sorry. The old brain is slowing down more each day. Thought of this in my sleep a couple of nights ago.

This message was edited Jan 10, 2004 6:32 PM

I have had mine for 7 or 8 years now. They self- seed, but germinate late in my zone 7, Charlotte, NC, garden. I love the plant, and am thrilled to know it's name. (For years I have been describing it to folks, and no one has known anything about it.)

I'm glad you enjoy yours as much as I do mine!

jumu! I have a friend (also a member here) who is CRAZY about variegated plants... will you please save a few seeds from your plant, when you find them, and send them to me (OR her...)? I'd be happy to send postage or seeds of something else I have.

Thanks!

BTW... I hadn't posted since the fall, but found that I had ALL KINDS of babies this spring! In fact, the Jewels were the first ones up! I did have to do a little thinning here and there, but I have yet to collect any seeds (there have BEEN plenty, believe me!)

I just got this plant at a Church Festival and fell in love with it! My husband bought it for me for Mother's Day. I love discovering new plants and have never seen this one. Any tips on watering and fertilizing? I live in the Houston area.
Thanks and happy gardening.

I think this is one of the funnest plants I have ever come across. For days it had me stumped (nursey took tag I believe when paying for it. I found it at another nursey and they gave me info on it. So far it sits on my deck
ugggg waiting for a real life in a pot or in garden it seems to love the sun , we are in zone 8 , hope I can over winter it or harvest seed from it . IT IS ONE CRAZY PLANT!!!