I also posted this at the CA forum! I have the perfect sunny spot against a warm brick wall waiting for either one of those 2. I'm a bit partial towards the pulcherrima as far as looks go...but it seems to me the mexicana could be "easier" and more rewarding as far as flowering period, etc...
What is your opinion? Anyone here who's growing either one? Thanks!
pulcherrima
....because?
it is the nicest looking IMHO. having to wait for beautiful flowers i think is better than waiting less for not as beautiful ones
Totally agree...but the thing is I'm a total newbie! Waiting is not a problem as much as having a hard time to make it survive...do you think pulcherrima could be frustrating for a newbie ? I heard the CP is harder...
I don't know if newbie-ness is a problem as much as it is climate and other things--they grow like weeds in some places, but in other places they struggle more. I've always had trouble with them and have had much better luck with C. mexicana and C. gilliesii. It could be me or it could be the climate, hard to say! Your winters will definitely be better for them than mine are but I've lost some during the summer too for unknown reasons (I know people in AZ grow them, so I don't think they have a problem with dry heat!) I'd probably give it a try--chances are your Lowes or Home Depot will have them this summer for under $10 so you really don't have much to lose, worst case you get to enjoy it for a little while and then doesn't make it in the long run, then next year you get one of the other ones.
You're kidding? They have those at HDepot???
I live in Yuma, AZ, not to far from you, and they grow like mad here. The mexicana can be found almost anywhere HD, Lowes, Wallmart, and as cheap as $6-$8 for the one gallon size.. Let me know if anyone needs help getting one.
Davie
I've never seen mexicana or gilliesii at HD or Lowes, but I bought one of my (now dead) pulcherrimas from Lowes a couple summers ago and I'm pretty sure I've seen them at HD on occasion too. You might not find them now, they more frequently have them later in the year when they're blooming.
That's the problem with the big box stores...planting something that's alreadu blooming is in general not a great idea!
Hi,
I have both. I like mexicana because it is evergreen in my zone. Pulcherra becomes dormant and unsightly during winters. Pretty in bloom however.
lovetropics, they also go dormant here in winter....that was one more reason I was considering the mexicana although the pulcherrima is prettier...how long is your bloom period? I'm curious..
In our zone, mexicana is ever blooming as long as you cut off the dead flowers. I don't do any pruning but do enjoy the green leaves and it is a pretty plant even in winters--except our bad winter 2 years ago when it went deciduous.
Pulcherrima--goes very very deciduous in our mild winters and I don't notice until it is in bloom in mid-summer only. Also we have desert BOP which has a mix of green/yellow flowers which behaves very similarly to pulcherrima.
Really? So you have probably a month of bloom at most? I think it would be the same over here in soCal...
The spot I have is really a major focal point.... I might get a little impatient with one month of bloom only! Don't you hate those Florida people who got it so easy??? lol!
Keep in mind that you're in zone 10 and don't get frost except in an unusually cold winter. Zone 9 does get some frost and that's what makes this one drop its leaves, etc. It's definitely going to be happier in zone 10 than in zone 9.
Yeah, that's true....but I went to the nursery this week and the pulcherrimas were still dormant...and the mexicanas were blooming. I CAN'T DECIDE! lol!
Personally I like the Mexicana better, blooms almost all year. My pulcherrimas are still dormant, mexicanas blooming all over town. For me its about having flowers all the time.
Dbrooks, I'm like you. That's probably the reason I am considering C. mexicana...I think the pulcherrima is way more gorgeous...but again...it's decidious!!!
I think I'll end up doing "eeny miny moe", ahhaha
Flip a coin...I always get lost half way through "eeny miny moe". LOL
LOL!
