Yesterday, I got to go to Martha's Bloomers Nursery in Navasoda, TX. Wonderful place and the set up is great just to browse around and take in the lovely plants. Anyway they had a very large perennial shurb next to the hot house that was blooming yellow flowers (like butterfly vine) and red flowers. It was part of their landscaping. The lady who works at the store said they didn't have any of them to sell, also, she said it was called a red wing plant bec. the seeds look like red wings. Well, the red wing plant that I get to come up on the internet is not the one I saw there. I was wondering if DG members who live in that area know about this plant.
Mary
Plant ID - Martha's Bloomers
Since they are one of my customers, could it be this?
Mexican Butterfly vine?
http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&um=1&hl=en&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=mascagnia+macroptera&btnG=Search+Images
If it is the Butterfly Vine, I would call you very lucky and you might be very unhappy about its growth habit. The vine, which I notice is called deciduous has always been evergreen for me, has very nice clusters of yellow flowers folllowed by the seed pods in chartreuse which turn a lovely shade of brown when the seeds are ripe. The only downside is that every place the vine touches the ground the vine begins a new plant so it can be invasive. I would plant it where nothing else is as the vine grabs everything and winds around it. It is very easy to propagate because of this by layering itself. You can send me a start when it gets too much for you. I love it!!
Ann
Now, Ann, I just planted some seeds you gave me last yr. Remember what they were? I didn't!
After I planted them, I noticed where you put your name & a short description of the plant, that on the very last line it said 'Cypress Vine'.
So, okay, I'm expecting this fern-like plant to come up but no!!! It looked more like the start of some kind of bean or pea. Then after about a wk, here comes that fern-like vine that I was expecting. Sure glad, I thought I had mixed up the seeds somehow.
I have a M BF vine in about a 20g pot. I rescued it for the 'graveyard' of plants. Didn't know if it would make it b/c it had been in the ground for yrs. But it is doing well & since you said that it will 'begin again', I will see if I can start you some. If you were serious!
LMK
I AM serious. Love that vine! Thanks!!!
Ann
Thanks for replying. But no Smockette, it isn't a Mexican Butterfly. I have one of those and yes it is rather WILD growing but that OK bec. it is on an ugly wire fence.
The plant at Martha's is not a vine it was a large shrub 6-7 feet, almost small tree size. Each flower pod or cluster had 2 different colors and different flowers - the top was yellow like the butterfly plant flower but smaller and the bottom of the blossum was red. I don't remember what that flower looked like. I SHOULD OF took a picture of the plant. Anyway it was so different and very pretty. And I like to have one of everything!!!!
Also, Plantladyhouston, I can send you some seeds of the butterfly vine, too.
If either of you two get to go visit Martha's. The large shrub was in the very back in the middle of one of the hot houses. It was is full bloom last Monday. Thanks!
I wonder if it was a Bird of Paradise?
e-mail Martha's and ask them!
I'll ask my one of my drivers if they know the location you are referring to. Otherwise, I'll just call them tomorrow.
It could be yellow bird of paradise (Caesalpinia gilliesii) like silverfluter suggested or pride of barbados, red bird of paradise (Caesalpinia pulcherrima).
http://davesgarden.com/pf/adv_search.php?searcher%5Bcommon%5D=Bird+of+paradise&searcher%5Bfamily%5D=&searcher%5Bgenus%5D=&searcher%5Bspecies%5D=&searcher%5Bcultivar%5D=&searcher%5Bhybridizer%5D=&search_prefs%5Bsort_by%5D=genus&images_prefs=both&Search=Search
From your description, it sounds like my Pride of Barbados.
Oh, I'm so confused now. I've looked at the pictures - htop and catlady and it could be either one. I don't remember the leaves bec. the bush was just covered with blooms. Good idea to e-mail Martha's. I think I will wait to hear from Smockette. This has truily become a MISSION.
Thanks.
The seed pods on the yellow bird of paradise (Caesalpinia gilliesii) are tannish in color. Those on the red bird of paradise (Caesalpinia pulcherrima) are more of a reddish brown. I wouldn't think that they would call the yellow bird of paradise a red wing plant. They might call the red bird of paradise (Caesalpinia pulcherrima) a red wing plant.
htop, point well taken. I'm going to try to e-mail them right now.
Thanks
Well, I called yesterday & had to leave a message. I guess their Mondays are like mine here @ the Farm. 47 fires to put out b4 I can get to my office.
I'll call again today.
Thanks Smockette. I, also, e-mailed them. Haven't heard anything.
To follow up on the plant ID - Martha's Bloom finally e-mailed me and the plant is ---- called a RED WING -- Heteropteris glabra. It can be grown as a vine or brush.
They said they get it from somewhere in Houston and will e-mail me when they can get some there at the store.
Heteropteris glabra does not come up on DG plant search but does come up on other search engines. Thanks everyone who contributed to this thread. I guess this thread is close.
Mary
You've really got my curiousity up.:) Maybe it goes by another name?
Martha's Bloom said the name "RED WING" was the correct name.
Look up Heteropteris Glabra. That's it.
Mary
I think that the spelling is "Heteropterys". I am not familiar with this plant that is a Soth American native plant. It is recommended as a Texas tough plant on one site I found. It needs full sun and is hardy in Zones 8a-10. Somewhere I read it is root hardy in 7a and 7b.
Here is its PlantFile entry which I will try to fill in:
http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/116859/index.html
The photos I have found of Redwing (Heteropterys glabra):
http://www.ncsu.edu/jcraulstonarboretum/horticulture/connoisseur_plants/2002/pages/IMG_0086.htm
http://www.ncsu.edu/jcraulstonarboretum/horticulture/connoisseur_plants/2002/pages/IMG_0040.htm
http://www.bustaniplantfarm.com/images/Plant%20Pictures/Heteropterys%20glabra.JPG
http://www.annistonstar.com/www/as/seasons/fall2005/fall05_134.htm
http://www.gingersflowergarden.com/Heteropterysglabra.html
I have heard of Mariposa (Heteropterys angustifolia) is also known as Red Wing (which I did not know). It is a native plant of Argentina I believe.
http://www.toptropicals.com/cgi-bin/garden_catalog/cat.cgi?number=5&find=Malpighiaceae&imagesonly=1
This message was edited Jun 17, 2007 10:18 AM
htop, that's the plant. The red wing brush at Martha's Bloom was in complete bloom. I didn't even notice the leaves bec. of the beautiful flowers. It was gorgeous. Sounds like a good plant for South Texas.
I will be hunting for one when I go touring to different nurseries, now.
Thanks for your help.
You are quite welcome. It looks like it is a winner to me. :o)