Questions???

I have some Prunus glandulosa, Pink flowering Almond and Deutzia gracilis, Slender Deutzia and am wondering what I could plant around them that would look nice and compliment them. I love them when they bloom, but them there is nothing and it makes that area look a bit scraggly when they just all in twigs.

I am surprised more people don't plant these. Is there a reason why? Also, when is a good time to prune them. Will pruning help to make them look more fuller a bit faster and branch out?

Next question, Anybody grow Philadelphus ' Minature Snowflake'? I wonder if it really stays small or if there is a better one. I have several Philadelphus x virginalis 'Natchez' and while I love the blooms, they are not what I thought they would be. Mine have grown up tall , but they have alot of dead wood sticks in them and I am not sure if I am supposed to be cutting them out or not. I also have alot of problem with them losing their leaves and they seem to wilt alot if not watered everyday.

Another question. Anybody ever seen Michelia figo, Banna shrub, produce seed? This tree is really begining to frustrate me. For 4 years I have watched these two huge trees flower. I love the blooms and the smell, it one of my favorite trees, but in all that time of watching them, I have never been able to fidn any seed on either tree to gather. I have tried several different ways and over the coarse of several years to try and root some cuttings with no luck, so I thought I would do seeds and can't find any.

The one s I have been watching have buds all on them again, and I would like to try and get some seeds if they make em. But surely they do???? If anybody has a sure way to propagate these trees would love to know how you do it , please.

Last question. I gathere d up a bunch of seed from off a green tree form of Lorapetalum. Anybody know what its scientific name is? I would like to be sure. Have red several different things and not sure which one is scientifically correct.

Hope everybody still enjoying the holidays!!!!!!

Thank you!

Well, I can help with one of the questions...Michelia figo does make seeds, I've seen them for sale several places that sell tropical tree/shrub seeds. Can't help you on why yours hasn't given you any, all I know is that you can propagate them that way! They're very closely related to magnolias so the conditions for seed formation should be similar (actually they've been reclassified to be in the Magnolia genus, so now the "correct" name for this is Magnolia figo). So if you know anything about propagating magnolias (which I don't) the same should hold true for Michelia.

I've been growing Miniature Snowflakes for a few years now and they've stayed compact. I've had some winter dieback issues, but overall this is a first-rate shrub. The only other MO I've got is 'Buckley's Quill', which seems to have all the negative traits of Philadelphus neatly wrapped in a single plant. I've been way too patient with BQ and it must go. Miniature Snowflake produces a plethora of highly fragrant, long-lasting double flowers. Plus, the foliage stays a healthy dark green throughout the season. Hard to go wrong with this one.

Prunus glandulosa should be pruned after it blooms. I would prune it way down after blooming and it would come back looking a lot more healthy, not necessarily thicker. Deutzia gracilis takes to rejuvenating pruning every other year or every third year. It also should be pruned after it blooms. As to what to plant with them, that would be your call and what you like.

If the Loropetalum is green leaved with white or cream flowers it is Loropetalum chinense. The burgandy leaved, pink flowered forms are Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum.

Thank you for all your help folks, I appreciate it.

Thanks for the tip on the Michelia. Will google using Magnolia and maybe I can find some seed that way.

Maackia.. Thanks for the heads up on BQ. I saw pics of it and thought cute the bloom looked and how different, but definately don't need any headache plants.

Terryr. Thanks for the prunning info. They have never had a haircut, so they gonna get one this coming year after they bloom. They probably will thank me.

Thanks Chamthy, appreciate having a positive id. That what I thought it was but when I had a discussion with landscape person they said I as wrong and my googlign didn't giv eme a definate.

Best Wish for the New Year for Everybody!

You should google Michelia as well when you're looking for seed--some places are selling them as Magnolia now, but many places still use the old name, and some places list both names. If I can remember where it was that I saw the seeds I'll post again but unfortunately I browse too many different sites to remember what I saw where! You might try Top Tropicals and Seedman.com for starters because I know they both sell seeds of similar sorts of plants so I would guess one of them might have them (Top Tropicals sells mostly plants, but they do have seeds too for some things)