Clerodendrum Question

By the way, I was finally able to ID a C. that I saw in Naples, Florida 8 or 9 years ago. I stopped dead in my tracks when I saw it - I swear you could hear an angellic chorus- and fell absolutely in love. I saw the tree at the garage sale of a couple of plant nerds, they were moving. (The part that kills me is that the house and gardens were probably bulldozed, that's what happened when i sold my house) Anyway, their story was that a cutting/seed/whatever of this plant had been brought into the US by a Botanist, one was given to a plant nerd, he passed it to another, and there it was.

I've never seen it since but when I was trying to ID 'Musical Notes', I stumbled onto it. This one won't make it in my zone and I don't have a greenhouse, and their photos really don't do it justice. When I saw C. minahasse it was limbed up like a tree, it almost looked like a cross between a Plumeria and a Clerodendrum.

Since I can't load photos, check out the website! Choose the "catalog" tab, then type Clerodendrum into the search area, and you'll have all kinds of C. pix and info, lots of cultivars. I'm sending off for their catalog just to have as a reference.

http://toptropicals.com/index.htm

aahhh...I totally forgot what that plant was- I have one- It does have big leaves. Got it this summer, haven't seen blooms.

plantnutga--
That's an incisum in my pic. Far from well behaved here.

Here is the minahasse-
I'm glad you said that, because I would have forgotten what the plant was.

Deb-

uh, oh, I didn't look closely at your earlier photo, you're right, it's the same plant.
Size I can deal with but I'll need to move it. Seeds I haven't seen a one YET. Suckering- if so the websites lie, lie, lie!!!!!!!!! (it wouldn't be the first time)

Yes...that is what I wish I had. My strain is Clerodendrum speciosum (delectum), and does not bloom as prolifically as the Clerodendrum splendens...I might have gotten my spendens and delectums mixed up ...lol

gosh, I hate it when that happens!

they are all splendid and delectable to me

I will have to check the incisum more closely, though

I didn't see seeds but now that I know it's seed-happy I'll look again

I'm tickled that my imaginary C. minahasse does in fact exist in the US and that it's in the hands of collectors and apparantly at least 1 nursery. They mentioned on the website that it is extremely hard to propagate.

LOL..good one!

Yes...also zone9tropicals..com had them.

Good story- I ordered some plants from Zone9 tropicals, and got a call at work (Continental Airlines Headquarters) and the guy said hello, this is Bob , from zone 9 tropicals, did you order some plants? I said yes. I did. He said - this will sound weird, but I'm calling you from the 16th floor. I replied- you work for Continental too? yep he says, but that's not the strangest part- He says... I live right around the corner from you! So he and his friend delivered the plants to my house, and chatted for a while, then the following weekend I went over to their house- and saw all of the plants (I thought my place was crowded!). They run the business out of the house, but they are looking for a new location. Of cousre the plants are good quality when they don't have to be mailed- so I can't vouch for the quality after shipping.
Incidentally I broke the tip of the minahasse off and started it as a cutting with no problem.

yes, but aren't you known for being a propagation guru type?

LOL, not to my knowledge. I have zone luck on my behalf.

I wish zones were all it took...perhaps patience is the problem

LOL

speaking of zones, I heard good things about Zone9 tropicals when I was in Naples

I think temperature and humidity play a key role- at the beginning of July, I knew we were going to have a rainy week, which is perfect for propagation- so I went to town and propagated alot of ugandense as alot of people were requesting them. I also use a pinch of lava sand in the soiless mix which facilitates a great nutrient absorbtion by the cuttings. Only in summer though as the lava component is too dense in my opinion for temperatures under 70F.

I was impressed with the zone9 guys too. I ordered a jade vine, and they brought over this mammoth 5 foot plant with large vines protruding everywhere. I asked, how in the world were you going to ship that? He said they cut them back....couldn't imagine it.

by lava sand are you talking fine Dyna-Rok? I'm still learning. I'm a nerd but not practiced in the art of propagation.

I have ordered from zone9 and they did a great job shipping. The plants were large and healthy. I was really impressed with them.
The bananas they shipped were over 3'-not one leaf bent or broken!

Well I'll have to let them know.. They will appreciate it. I know they are looking for more property to expand- In the mean time I told them they could store stuff over here if they needed too. They are pretty generous guys- My car was not empty upon my departure from their place. The jade vine is spectacular. The other guy Wayne is the guy who tends the plants and he is like the rest of us....really loves the gardening.

Plantnutga--
here is a picture of what I am talking about
http://davesgarden.com/journal/ed/viewimage.php?did=7392
and....what it looks like out of the bag
http://davesgarden.com/journal/ed/viewimage.php?did=11430

Here are some of my observations, speculations, theories and conjectures. The only thing missing are conclusions. I lost those with the delectums and speciosum.!
http://davesgarden.com/journal/ed/index.php?tabid=1720

This message was edited Sep 20, 2006 7:32 AM

This message was edited Sep 20, 2006 7:33 AM

Hmmmm....

I have so much to learn! I have bought a few tropicals from "out of Africa" and they use Dyna-Rok volcanic in their soil mix. When I went on their website there were 2 grades, one was fine. I was trying to figure out what the fine would be for since they sell exotic african plants, a lot of which are C & S stuff

I knew the coarser was for water retention and aeration. The fine may be more for what you are doing (they collect a lot of seeds in Africa)

plantnutga

hmmm...that's sounds great to explore- may I have their website.
If it were me, I would buy both grades. Having been raised in Liberia, West Africa- I would say a little of both, perhaps starting with the course grade at first. Yes.I would love to go to that web site. Especially if they have seeds from Africa too. I found a bag of seeds my mother had collected in the mid 70's. I planted some- and after 30 some years, one of the seeds sprouted- It appears to be some sort of mimosa like tree, although the leaves are bigger than the usual mimosa. It's about 12 feet tall now-- nothing interesting as far as blooming yet.
It has been quite an experiment so far.

If you're looking for seeds from Africa (at least S. Africa), Silverhill seeds is a great source--they have a huge selection and good reviews in Watchdog if I recall.

Randy

Here's the website

http://www.out-of-africa-plants.com/


ecrane3: How funny! I grew up in Livermore!

plantnutga

Thanks!
Mabe they can identify my tree!
Rj

It was 59 this morning...very crisp..

I saw this guy looking for a warm up.

It looks like he is saying.....Do you mind!? I'm taking a sun bath.

Well this thread made me go clerodendrum nuts. I had to buy 2 kinds last week. One is the variegated Clerodendrum bungei 'Pink Diamond' and I got a huge Clerodendrum thomsoniae 'Delectum' and now am looking for a Clerodendrum quadriloculare var. brandonii.

Are they all a strict zone 10 plant?

Gosh Rj, your garden journal is amazing. Truly amazing. What an organized soul you are. Now I am on the hunt for lava sand. LOL. I have bought everything lava but that.

Bungeii is hardier than that, OK down to maybe zone 8 or so? and quadriloculare is supposed to be hardy in zone 9. Thomsoniae is supposed to be zone 10, but if you don't get frost where you are then it'll probably make it too. Trichotomum is also very hardy (to zone 7-8) if you want to add more to your collection. But if you live close enough to the ocean that you don't get frost, you could probably grow almost any of the clero's with no trouble.

I have been growing Thomsoniae here for years with no problems and no special covers/treatments.

Well HELLO Ecrane, we meet again this morning. LOL.

I am going to have bring my variegated Clerodendrum bungei 'Pink Diamond' inside, they are so hard to come by. I have been trying to get that one since spring when Sue saw it and emailed me the pic. But the others must fend for themselves.

I can get frost but it is getting rarer and rarer. Last year we had it once in November, the year before I think we escaped with none.

Thanks Budgielover, I will leave my Thomsoniae out too this year as my Plumies have grown too much and are taking up my free space in my dining room. So hopefully I will luck out like you do!

LOL .....thanks Kell. Oh boy what a long thread that subject took off to. Lava- very interesting.. I still would like to get ahold of the Hawiita brand lava clay mixture from Europe..one day perhaps...

I just got back from Seattle- visiting the folks...surprise Birthday for my Dad.

couldn't find a rain cloud anywhere

Great photo. I bet your Dad was thrilled at you coming home for his birthday!

He sure was. he looks so good, I wasn't paying attention to how old...well..that's good for me in the long run..or short run as it may be.

Randy, that's a great Seattle pic! I'm sure your folks were happy to see you. It's hard having family so far away- mine are all in CA or OR.

I'm sure you mentioned it in another thread, but where are you getting your lava sand? locally or having it shipped?

Erin (plantnutga)

Yes, - they are starting to make a trip down in the spring now...so it is nice to have them here for a while too.

I get my lava sand at Houston Fertilzer- they come in huge bags - I haven't seen it on their web site...www.yardgeek.com but haven't been there for a while.
Rj

Thanks, Randy- you just gave me an idea!

If I can't find what I need at the garden center, Graco Fertilizer is one little town over, they do special soil mixes for all of the wholesale nurseries around here (there are quite a few large ones, including one that Monrovia owns) but will also sell to the public. It didn't even occur to me to try there

If you can't find any - I'll send you some. For me, I've decided that I will only use it during the summer months. I have developed a theory and am stickin to it!

Interesting discussion. I luv the Clero's tooooo!!
:) Donna

Randy

I found Dyna Rok and Turface (or close), which I was looking for to use in my C & S mix and some tropicals. No lava sand. The big fertilizer place is only open weekdays and unfortunately I return to fulltime work TODAY. ****sniff*** I will keep looking around but eventually I may take you up on your offer! -Erin

Okay==
I did find a smaller bag of a lava "substance" when I went to the fertilzer store this weekend. I will elaborate on that - take a picture...I am giving that one a try in several repottings. I talked to the owner at Houston Fertilzer- he told me that Lava has some restrictions in regards to shipping to other states
...interesting.
Rj

the "good" garden center nearest to me had lava rock but no lava sand. I swear to you the helpful but oh-so-puzzled clerk even showed me that there were a couple of teaspoons of lava sand in the bottom of the lava rock bag.......like I was going to buy it and crush my own.....good thing she didn't take a job at a pancake hous, I can just see it! "well, ma'm, here's some eggs and some flour, and if you just go out back there's a tree you can get maple syrup from......"

lol....
actually that is the more economic way to go from what I hear...lava rock - sledge hammer - .

That one bag I was talking about- I'm not sure exactly what that is, but it doesn't look like the other stuff I've been using. Seems that knowledge about this is not too wide spread yet.

Kell,
That plant picture you showed is called a bleeding heart here in central fla and its very invasive. I have the clero called Bungie and its very invasive too> I planted it last yr and then little plants started coming up everywhere even in the lawn so I got out there and yanked them up and they are still at it. I also had a red flowred one but got worried about them speading all over kingdomcom and decided to pull them all up. I got them from a yard where I have a friend and they were all over the place and they had two colors of them and I didnt know what they were called but the flowers were so pretty and big and smelled so good I thought I had to have some so pullled up some of each color. I do like the red ones in one picture that you all posted but am worried they would spread here. Glad to hear you all like them. I also have Pagola flower and its invasive also just like cleros. Fran

Randy

It actually occurred to me after my smart a** post that I have an extra mortar and pestle, if only a little bit of lava is needed in each pot that would be an excellent and inexpensive way to go...