What Bush is this?

Here is a picture of a bush I have been dying to have. the flowers are incandescent orange. Please help me identify the bush as I would like to buy one. It blooms in my area zone 8 about May 15.

thank you all.

I don't know the ID of the bush either but will be watching this thread to see if it is ID'd---I love bright, gaudy colors.

Jan

I'm with JanLynn, I'd love for someone to Id the bush, and hopefully they will know some info on it, like hardy for what zone, size (tall,width) does it require sun or shade. It's a beauty!!

Possibly some sort of pomegranate? There are a billion different cultivars but most of them don't have pics in plant files, this link is the Plant Files entry for the straight species
http://davesgarden.com/pf/showimage/39600/
I seem to remember the one I had blooming a bit later than May, but I might be remembering wrong. Sorry but it's only hardy to zone 7b so you folks in MI/WI won't be able to grow it. I could be wrong on the ID though so don't give up hope yet!

Looks like the 2 azalias I have out front. They are about to bloom and are bright orange. Seems like it wouldn't be in bloom in your zone right now though.

Here's a close up on the buds about to bloom. Edited to say that you can't tell by the picture, but the flowers are actually bright orange.

This message was edited May 17, 2007 11:12 AM

The more I look at it the more I really think it's Pomegranate, the blooms really look like it. The only thing that was making me hesitate is that I was thinking it was a little early for it to be blooming, but I noticed buds on mine today so it is the right time of year for them. It really doesn't look like an azalea to me, the flowers aren't right.

I agree.. It definitely is a pomegranate. The blooms and leaves are a perfect match!

lafko06,
Do you know the name of your azalea? As I mentioned, I love bright gaudy colors-especially orange!!! I have a white azalea and a red azalea. Now I need a yellow azalea and an orange one!!! I love it when I can see my flowers glowing with color when I drive by the house :)


ecrane3,
I'm gonna look for a pomegranate at the store this weekend and see if I can grow one from seed. Will the seed from a store-bought pome bloom orange such as yours? There's a lotta things in my garden that aren't zone hardy for me therefore I do the "...move 'em out in the summer and move 'em into the house in fall...". Someday, hopefully, when we retire we will move south. Neither DH or I are "winter loving people" and I'm not that fond of tulips, daffs, etc. as "everyone" grows them here and I try to get away from the "generic" garden look!

Have a wonderful weekend everyone,
Jan

I think all pomegranates bloom orange, some of them have single flowers and some have double (the one above looks like a double), most likely the ones you buy at the store will have less nice flowers than the ornamental poms that are developed more for flowers rather than fruit.

here is another pic of blooms, leaves and flower, buds. this pic is clearer. thanks very much to all for the replies. I am going to do a search on pomegranate shrubs.

JanLyn, the pic of the azalea looks like the flame azalea variety. They bloom in the summer/fall of the year here in southern North Carolina.

This is a pomegranate!!!! I have them in my yard..........take full sun............

could you recommend a nursery? I love to have this shrub! Yes, It is a pomegranate and they do have different color varieties.

I am looking for the double orange-red shrub type. any referrals? Thank you all for all your responses. I am grateful.

sorry I cannot help you.....we only get the single blooms down here i think...

If you're OK doing mail order, here are all the places in Plant Scout that sell poms. You'll have to look up the specific cultivar first to see if it's a double flowered one or not http://davesgarden.com/ps/search.php?search_text=Punica

It is a pomegranite ....for sure! at the moment I have dozens of seedlings growing from a fruit I bought at the supermarket .I just popped the little sack (yum) sucked the juice out (very healthy by the way) and dried the seeds for a couple of days ...then planted them into a polystyrene fruit box...you know ..the ones with holes for drainage.I used a mix of washed river sand and potting mix about 50/50 (you can grow anything pretty much in this)...and they were up pretty quick....and some still sprouting ...pomegranites
are as tough as old boots!...they are dec., in cooler climates...and withstand drought and heat very well.If you want to ensure great eating I would buy a plant from the Nursery but if you just want the wonderful colour (fruits are very pretty too) or a great hedge...you can grow these from seed.By the way if you love the colour we have a bourgainvillia here in Australia called "Tango Supreme" I am sure you would have the same in many countries but perhaps under different names.At the moment I have dozens of persimmons grown the same way...they also are very pretty hot
colours when in fruit ...not only that but the leaves are spectacular in Autumn (fall)....don't be afraid to try growing things from seed
My garden is full of wonderful stuff I have grown from seed ...my favourite being the Ice Cream bean tree which was as easy to grow as a sweet pea....gardening is all about havng fun! not only that but lots of yummo things to eat!