Candletree/bush (Cassia Alata) advice

About 10 years ago I fell in love with this one. My sister-in-law used to grow them every year across her huge lawn and they bloomed so beautifully. She always had a few extra seedlings she shared with me then, and the year we moved in this house I had one that also bloomed and truly stopped traffic. Since then she moved from there and wasn't able to grow them as she did.
I have had to get them from nurseries around town, but they weren't available until April. They would get fairly tall in a season, (about 8 ft.) and would not bloom by frost time. I kept trying again and again, and called various horticulturist for advice, however not many of them were experienced enough to yield anything helpful for making them bloom.
This year I have two of them, now about 6-8 ft tall, and no signs of budding yet. With the chill in the air this morning, once again I have this funny feeling coming back to me... oO will they bloom? or will they not?
Is there anything I can do now? Not much time left.
I would be so grateful for any help I can get here.

~Debnes
Here is a stitched together photo showing both plants:

This message was edited Sep 18, 2006 8:45 AM

Hi Debnes

I love that plant. Never had one myself but I checked at the nursery today and it won't survive in your zone outside so plan on bringing it in.

Jeri

Thanks Jeri!
It is planted in the ground, and it will have to stay there. They dont like being moved, and it is huge..where would I put it? In this climate they are an anual if planted outside. I have heard of them overwintering mild winters here, but other than that I only expect it to survive Spring, Summer, and Fall til freeze time. I prolly need to get some seeds and plant them in January in the house so they get a good start. That seems to be the only difference between years of blooms and years without...anyways, I sure do miss those yellow candleabras. I fed them again today in hopes we have enough days without freeze for them to bloom.
I appreciate your help!

Debnes

Deb, Theres a neighbor up the road from me growing Brugs
and these Cassias in the ground successfully. He covers them
with a foot of mulch in Oct. We are in zone 7a. Cut them all the way
back when they start looking ugly. You could
lay down an inch of newspapers over the root stock and then
cover that with a foot of mulch.
Wouldn't hurt to try.

Jackie

Oh Jackie!
Thanks so much, that sounds great. With that kind of coverage anything should survive, lol. I will do it with my night blooming jasmine too. I feel relieved now. I am still going to get some seeds and start some for the backyard in January.
I love everything about the Cassia!
Your all heart!

Debnes

This message was edited Sep 20, 2006 6:03 PM

I had 1 last year, started from seeds that were given to me. It did bloom for me and I loved it. The flowers lasted for a long time. I tried to dig and over winter it in the gh, but it didn't make it. I was told that they are annual.

Nope, they're not annuals so must have been something else that got yours. According to PF they're hardy to zone 8 so I don't even know if you'd have to bring it in for the winter.

Great pic Linda, Im glad there is at least one photo in this thread with blooms on it. Thank you for sharing that. More please if ya got em. I just miss those blooms so much.

My sister-in-love always planted them from seed in Jan in her house, and just plant new ones each year. I am going to follow Jackie's suggestion AND get seeds to plant in Jan. If they, (the ones pictured top of page) make it through the winter I will put the new seedlings in the back yard. We could end up having a brutal winter this year, we are due for one, and the Almanac had something on it. Harvest moon is going to be Oct 6 this year,, so we shall see.

Ecrane thx, sometimes I wonder what I could grow in zone 9-11. Fort Worth is a little different than people may think. In order for certain things to actually be an perinneal, steps must be taken for it to be so. Things deemed Tropical usually behave like anuals outside here, unless we do some major wrapping or bringing inside.



This message was edited Sep 20, 2006 8:35 PM

http://www.farmersalmanac.com/forthepress/usweathermaps.html Here is what FA says about the 06-07 winter outlook. See the "snowier than usual" part of the map.. I am right at the bottom of that. Lot of snow can be good if plants are wrapped good.

We may get much more rain next Summer for a change as well. I know they arent always right, but i'm optomistic.

debnes, if you don't have luck starting them in Jan, let me know. We grow them all the time where I work. I'm fr FtW & will be coming up to see my folks. I'd be glad to bring you replacements.

debnes, when I was talking about it making it through the winter, I was talking more to LindaSC who's in zone 8 and was wondering if it was an annual--I think it might survive outside for her, but for you in 7b it would definitely need some protection. Sorry for any confusion!

I would love to start some in January too if you happen to have extra seeds.

Hello,
I have four of these trees and mine didnt bloom till the second yr and at that time I only had one . so that one bloomed this yr and the other ones have not bloomed. I have thousands of seed on that one if any of you want seeds send me the postage and I will send you some Write to me and send just one 39cents stamp and I will mail you a bunch of them or if you want to trade then send me some seed and I will send you some of mine. You might like dwarf Flamboyant in Texas also as they bloom from about april here and are still going strong. Fran

Fran!!!
I'm so glad to see you with all those seeds. I will trade you lotsa bluebonnet seeds for those. You might have to refridgerate the bluebonnets to have them bloom for ya there, however it would be a specaticle for ppl from Texas who come there.

Candletrees are practically extinct here since my sis-in-love left North Texas...(Not a single Sulphercat sighting), but when she comes back they might just be coming up all over the place.. and yellow butterflies everywhere:-). I want to start at least 100 seedlings in our area by next spring,by giving them to neighbors who will grow them.

Thanks! I am so happy to know you!
Debnes

smockette,
You as well, I am glad to know. In leiu of previous mention, I need all the help I can get in this project. Please dmail me if you like.

Thank to God for DG and all you!

Debnes

Here in zone 9 it is periennial. I have had mine in the ground for about 4-5 yrs now.
It does get dieback from freeze but comes back with no problem. I had a large branch crack during one of the high wind storms after one of the hurricanes but I just trimmed it off. It is currently about 10-12 ft tall and at least that wide. It is now in full bloom and just gorgeous. I'll try to get some pics tomorrow. I still have tons of seeds from last year if anyone wants some. I just started some for a roundup next month and they have sprouted.
Jan..

Jan!!
Things like this make me want to move to Florida...oh girl!! Yes I'm sending a truck for the seeds, (jk, lol). Tell me what I can send you along with the envelope, or I can just pack a few things I have here.

Your tree must be a specticle...yes take pics! I gotta see that!

Tytyty!

Debnes

Here in 8b, north Florida, it dies back in late winter and then comes back in the spring. Mine is still blooming away and also has seeds that are ready for harvesting. If anyone needs any seeds, I have plenty.

Rylaff! How wonderful. please take a picture for me..

Debnes

Here are some photos of mine today.

Front view

closeup of flowers

Picture out of focus but you can see the seed pods starting at the bottom of blooms

Last one of ladybugs. Ladybugs appear to be attracted to mine. There are at least 6-8 on it right now.

Just to drive you snowbirds crazy, here is a banana currently fruiting. LOL

Awesome Jan!!

Now let me catch my breath!

Thank you for the pics... Those Nanners are amazing!


;o)

If anyone wants seeds, just send a SASE to me with a note for cassia seeds.
I have another cassia I am trying to ID exactly that has the same type leaves but only gets about 3x3 ft. If anyone wants any of those seeds, let me know. Here is a photo of the bloom on that one.

Neat neat!!

I like em all, and I bet sulphers do too. I'm still oogling the pics here lol..

Deb

I'd love some seeds of both. I'll get you a SASE sent. Thanks so much.

Budgielover: Please save me some seeds of the second cassia. I do have the name written down at home but am at work now. Will send it to you in a few days. Actually, they do get larger than 3 X 3 here and they bloom in the winter here. Will get a SASE in the mail to you.

Awesome bottle tree, Linda SC!! Love the deep cobalt with the yellow candlesticks. You think bottle trees are a Southern thing?

Peggy

I'm in zone 8, right on the line of a-b. A couple of mine over-wintered for the first time last year. They came up all over the yard from the popping seeds. Our lowest temps last winter were around 26 degrees for three or four nights. Thats unusually warm. Katrina laid some of the limbs down on the ground, but I left them there. They just kept right on trucking.

These babies are definitely the star of the show, though.

Kay

Edited to add that I use Cassia Alata for shade for my gingers. 'Works very nicely!

This message was edited Oct 10, 2006 9:54 PM

Kay!
What a lovely planting of Cassia you have there!! What a traffic stopper that must be!!

I hope you all are still here because we opened a new Thread in the "Butterfly Hummer's". There are people there that could use the advice of Cassia growers, and any seeds you can offer would be great!

http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/656598/ < this is the Main Thread for Host Plants Discussion

http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/659555/

Cassia Candlestick RULES in my garden!
I have an area that is so hot pure sun and I have 2 Candlestick bushes that I grow there which almost kills everything else!
I grew these from seeds and they grow so fast for me you just can't imagine! I love these and can't wait to collect the seeds when the pods are fully formed.
This photo was taken a month or so...so mind you they are bigger now with much more flowers!
Tricia

I love mine too,

After I planted the seedling, the lake rose and they have been living in abou 6"-1' of water for about 2 months and loving it. Go figure! So much for well drained soil!

Hap

Tricia,
What a sweet little Cassia ya have there, I bet it is bigger now. Be sure to post your extra seeds on the Host Plant Seed Exchange 3 messages up ^^. People there would be so grateful to get some.

Hey there Hap!! Nice to see you, and happy you have Cassias, and under water?? No surprise actually they love lots of water. They grow like that all over the Philliipines, and they grow well in marsh like conditions. Take a pic of it pleeeeeeeeze??

Hugs and waves~~

Deb, Hi yourself.

How do you know about the Philliipines? Seeing that you know this did you post this in the Plant Files? Wish you would.

I will try to remember to take a pix in the am, but that's a long time for my memory. LOL

Hap

Sure ((Hap))!
I have read a lot about this plant, one thing I found it is an invasive in the Philippines and many other tropical places. They use it for a lot of topical medicines. Here's a little on that.. I just found to show ya:

http://www.naturia.per.sg/buloh/plants/candlesticks.htm

http://www.stuartxchange.com/Akapulko.html (interresting preparations, and pics of plant parts)

I watered the daylights out of my 2 this year and they got taller than ever, just no blooms this time :o(..However! Next year I am planting a couple on the South side, and have high hopes.

Smiles don't forget the pic..:oD

Deb

Hiya all,
I'm over the Pond in Uk and have never seen cassia growing here before. I got some seed of alata in a trade recently. Does anyone know whats the best way to germinate it?
I'm zone 9 for the winter but our summers are cold and dull so now sure how it will do. Would love to see English butterflies on it if i ever get one to flower.

Cheers

mike

Mike,
Just nich and soak overnite or directly plant. They germinate very easily.