Okay okay, I admit, I don't often peek in here (except to look at the pics sometimes!) so don't know if this topic has come up yet. I've searched a few websites but to no avail. I'm trying to find the origin of these Brugs. Where did they originate, are they considered tropicals (they seem to overwinter fine here in our zone, heavily mulched), and who first gave them their name, etc.
Any input on this please?
origin of Brugs?
It's my understanding that the seven or eight (maybe even nine?)basic brugmansia species are native to the Andes Mountains, many at some fairly high evelations. I think they're actually considered semi-tropicals, because although they can't tolerate more than a light frost, they don't really care for high temps, either.
Here you will find some informations about B.aurea, suavolens and versicolor.
http://www.brugmansias.org/wildforms.html
The garden of Eden perhaps.
When I was in Ecuador a few years ago, seeing the Brugmansias growing on the hillsides was fabulous, at an elevation of over 11,000 feet. They also had small acreages of those tree tomatoes that right now I can't think of the botanical name. We were served juice made from their fruit. Can't say it was one of my favorite juices tho! Donna
Thanks MsBatt, and also Ludger. That's good info.
Gone2seed, good thinking! Wonder just how many cool things started there!
Rutholive/donna, sounds like you got quite a good picture of them there! So fortunate for you! Wish you had taken pics, and I bet you do too!
Cyphomandra betacea. Weird off topic story about tree tomatos. I collected seeds from it while in the Amazon. I put my seeds right beside my sleeping bag. When I woke up something had eaten most of the seeds. That was creepy. I ended up with about 9-10 plants, but they all died in winter. Some were in the GH, some in my house, it seemed the short days killed them as I tried everything. I gave one away to a Brug grower and hers died also. The juice is made by boiling the fruits many times, repeatedly. Or maybe they said boiling for hours. Rutholive where in Ecuador did you get? I was mostly in Peru, but stayed 10 days in Ecuador.
Dennis_taylor, We were in Ecuador and Galapogas area for 8 or9 days. Had a great time and did take lots of pictures. I also keep a running diary as we travel. Great to look back on aafter the years pass. It was 1996 when i was there, rutholive, (Donna)
We likely did the same trip! I went in 2000. After Ecuador I saw Peru for about 20 days. I also took many photos, 26.5 rolls to be exact. Get any seeds? I did. So many plants didn't have seeds, I have photos but I wish I had the plants! Especially cacti from Galapagos.