Golden Dew Drop, Sky Flower, Pigeon Berry 'Sapphire Showers' (Duranta erecta)

Golden Dew Drop, Sky Flower, Pigeon Berry 'Sapphire Showers'
Duranta erecta

Ten-foot-tall multi-trunked tree in flower

Do you have a pic of the trunk. I bought one of these from Wal-Mart and had no idea what it was. I put it in a large pot and it began growing. Well, it has gotten pretty tall. Love the flowers on it. It has slowed down some now with the blooms. I would love to plant it in the ground but it gets so tall I don't know where to plant it. Love this plant, any suggestions?

Cynni, I would definitely plant it in the ground against your house or some other protected area because it looks like it is only hardy to Zone 9. I don't have a trunk pic, but I'll try to remember to take one next time I'm out there. I would think that this would eventually be too big for a container plant.

Clare ~ aren't these the prettiest... I will try to get it planted this fall. I've seen butterflies on it so I guess they like the little blooms.. Have you had yours very long? Is this more like a tree or bush? Thanks for the response. I was afraid you wouldn't be watching this because it had been a while since you posted.

Cynni

Hi Cynni, I think I'm automatically watching the thread since I uploaded the pic.

I've never seen butterflies on mine, but the blooms smell like vanilla to me.

This is definitely a large bush or multi-trunked shrub. In fact, it sends up branches from nodes below the soil. I've had mine for several years and have had to prune it a few times. It keeps getting bigger and wider. I decided to give it a standard look by triming off all the lower branches so that it would look like a tree, but I have to keep on top of the new branches as they sprout and rub them out. Here's an older picture from 2007 that shows more of it. It was quite a bit shorter then. I think it grows about six feet a year if I'm not mistaken.

Why do I always choose something that will probably get out of hand to like? I hope I can keep it under control. It surely has grown since it has been in the pot. I have had the small butterflies on it. I have smell the bloom and I can't smell a frangrance. Cynni

Maybe you have a different variety than I have if you are not smelling a fragrance. Mine has a fairly strong fragrance.

I just checked this variety: http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/60098/ and it says it is hardy to Zone 8a so you should be able to plant it in the ground without having to worry about keeping it in a pot. It is easier to take care of once planted. It just needs some pruning once in a while.

Thanks Clare,

I appreciate the advice. I sure do wish mine had a fragrance. It just looks like it would and I have smelled it several different times. No smell. It probably isn't the same variety as yours...Cynni