What is on my Acnistus?

My acnistus seedlings all have freckles! They did not start out with them and I do not see any freckles in the pics I find of acnistus, and acnistus is the old name for Iochroma or vica versa, cannot remember, lol, but I have an Iochroma and IT does not have freckles. I do not have anything against freckles, but are they SUPPOSED to be on my plant??

OMG!! IT'S ACNISTUS POX! Ok I really don't have a clue but it looks like it has the measles or something..

OK..I did web search and couldn't find much info.. :( hopefully someone knows.. it would be neat if it isn't something icky

If it's acnictus australis, it's not the same as iochroma. If I remember correctly, the seedlings look fine. The spots will disappear when it gets older.

LOL, Jazz, acnistus pox, good one. :~)

Brugcrazy,
yes, it is acnistus australis. So they are the same as Iochroma?
I am relieved to know that the freckles are normal, thank you! I was afraid they had some horrible disease that would spread to my brugs or something. LOL
Thanks!
Donna

sorry, just a typo. I meant, "so they are not the same as Iochroma?"
I am glad to hear from people that grow them & know they are not the same because everything I see online & even in the PlantFiles, it shows them as the same, with the names being interchangeable. Acnistus was a viner for you, huh Brugie? As a confirmed vine addict you have certainly got my attention! LOL
Thanks everyone,
Donna

Yes, it wasn't a huge vine, but probably 4 ft or more. The problem I had with it was that it didn't bloom a lot and the flowers weren't the color of the ad in the seed catalog. A big disappointment.

My Acnistus and Iochromas were totally different from each other too. The flowers on Acnistus were more flared where Iochroma was more tube shaped. The leaves are shaped different too. I too found the Acnistus more upright with a strong trunk and Iochroma more floppy with weak stems.

well shoot! Then why are they being classified as the same, I wonder?
Is this another "snail vine/corkscrew vine" situation?
And Cala, yours was not a vine like Brugie's was?
Boy, the plot thickens! LOL Now I can hardly wait to see what I end up with.
I am going to put the link of the seeds I bought, not this exact auction, but the same buyer & the pics and description are the same. I would appreciate you looking at it & telling me if this sounds like what you all had.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=3184&item=4370468151&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW
Thanks,
Donna

Mine probably would have ended up being a tree because it did get the woody stem, but it shot out side growth up and down that stem, making it appear more vinelike. I just read that they can get 10-20 ft tall. I'd like to see a picture of that.

LOL, no kidding. But they ALSO say it is the same as Iochroma, so I guess we should take the 10-20 ft height with a grain of salt! HARHAR
Well, it is not like I spent alot on the seeds, so I cannot feel like I am out anything, I just have sooooo many plants and so little space that I have had to be selective about what I grow. Hopefully I will see something this year that will tell me if this is even worth taking up space with.

Well the Iochroma wasn't a tree, lol, it was sort of viney, it wanted to flop all over everywhere so I had to tie it to a bamboo stake to make it stand up. I'd like to see a 20ft tall one too Brugie!

They definitely aren't the same plant. I've grown both and will take the Iochroma over the Acnistus for number of blooms, especially. My Iochromas were floppy too, but the red one especially, really bloomed a lot for me.

I have 3 acnistus astralis growing. The two blue ones are small bushes, about 4 feet tall. They get dark blue flowers. The white one is a large bush about 6 feet tall. They both live outside in zone 8b/9a and have survived for 5 years at least. Hope this helps. They lose all their leaves in winter, look like a bunch of sticks.

Brugcrazy,
Sounds like it might even be hardier then the Iochroma if they can be left out all winter, because I think I read something that lead me to believe I would have to bring my Iochroma inside.
Do the flowers look like the ones I bought from ebay? Not so much color-wise as yours are dark blue, but structure?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=3184&item=4370468151&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW
You have all been so helpful & I really appreciate it.
Thanks
Donna

I grew mine from seed. Some came out a bit darker blue, same flowers and some came out white. I think I might have got the seeds from T&M, it was at least 5 years ago. It will definitely be hardy at your place.

Great, thanks. A great bit of info I got from you all!