I know this native is very drought tolerant. Do you think It could survive in this space. It's about 2 feet wide and very long.
Desert Willow
Yup......it can grow in spaces that don't allow the trunk to get large. Really, the trunk doesn't seem to get very large in open spaces either. I started 2 from seeds about 3 years ago and have them growing on both sides of my driveway. They're both about 5 1/2' tall now and blooming. Fantastic trees!
Knolan - I want to grow some desert willows. Glad to hear someone did just that. Can you tell me when do you gather the seeds, and how do you germinate them? I love these trees with they beautiful flowers and airy leaves - and got a bunch of cuttings last month, only to learn they grow from seeds not cuttings.
Linda
I gathered the seeds from a vacation spot up on Lake Buchanan a few summers ago (I think it was in July) and planted them immediately when I got home. About 4 months later, I saw the seedlings and voila! Here they are! This is the first year they have bloomed for me.
So you just planted them outside in the ground?
I love them too...
A few years ago I called our Extension Office here and they toldme to just start them in sandy soil...so I started one in a styrofoam cup...it germinated and was doing fine...then I forgot to "see to it" and it died...I plan to try again....as soon as I get some seeds next year. OR
Does anyone have seeds they'd like to share? Jo
Glad to know it will like this location. I will probably add compost and lava sand, Anything else?
Jo - when mine starts producing seeds, I'll collect some and will be happy to share.
Yes, I just planted them right in the ground.
Knoladn...Thanks! But every Wed. I volunteer at a National Park here...and I pass a long row of the Desert Willows...I just forgot to save some seeds until it was too late...I'll save some next year. Jo
If you don't want to wait for seeds, there is a superior cultivar for sale at High country gardens for $8
http://www.highcountrygardens.com/catalog/product/36350/
It is seedless(so you won't have all those messy pods & millions of little babies always sprouting) and blooms more often, too.
It is a mailorder tree, so it won't be very big, but they grow fast, and having this improved cultivar, would be well worth the wait.
ps-banana~ they have desert willows planted in the city medians here, and also all along the highway with no water system, except for natural rainfall. They do well, and are so pretty in bloom.
If any of you start from seed, they germinate within days if fresh, and sown while still hot.(October-ish, when it can be both fall seed set, but still have stretches of hot summer temps), and the seeds should be surface sown, not buried.
-T
This message was edited Jun 18, 2008 7:05 AM
I saw these at our local Sam's and fell in love with them! I'd love to plant one in our back yard, but we have some tidying up to do first. First opportunity I get, though, I'm getting one!!
'Walker's low' catmint would look really nice in that space, along with your desert willow.
Here is mine in a similar situation
It is pretty "xeriscape" once it gets established, and blooms the entire summer. It also is sterile, and does not set seeds, and does not get any taller than you see here(about 18 inches)
Thanks, seedpicker! Jo
Thanks for the info. I have never planted catmint. I have four nerve, blackfoot and damianita daisy in this area,Sounds like a nice addition.
I have a Desert Willow and love the scent of the tree, in bloom or not. It stops me every time.
T, Did you get your Walker's Low at Garrison's? They love that stuff. Every landscape they do, seems to have it (including mine). That and Evergreen Giant Liroipe.
I've had a desert willow for a few years and they only time I've seen it bloom was when I brought it home from the nursery. I just don't know enough about them to even speculate what I should do, any ideas.
I love 'walker's low' and found a 'hidcote giant' (sp?) this year, can't wait to see what it does.
Stacey-
As a matter of fact, yes!, lol...that is where I first discovered it, but have purchased it at North Haven, also. Are they still open for retail? They had closed it for landscaping, only, but a few times I've driven by, and they had annuals out front like the old days...?
On the subject of desert willows, I passed a nursery in Denton today that had a desert willow named "bubba"...no joke. It was Bubba, lol...
It was a sterile hybrid, but a really pretty medium purple. It was a much prettier color than the burnt red/burgundy colored one at High Country gardens...
They made the change around the time that they were doing our landscaping in March. Dan Garrison said that they are trying concentrate more on the landscaping side of the business, but sell a few plants when open. They are only open Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm. All I could think of when he said they were cutting most of the retail out, was how sad it was after their dad's passion for plants. He had said that his dad's Alzheimer's was pretty advanced.I went up to get some Plant-tone a month or so ago and they had quite a few annuals and some perennials in the back. And Jeff Garrison, their dad, was there arranging the annuals out front. It was nice to see him out.
Stacey-
Wow...Mr Garrison still hanging in there...She talked to me last summer like that wouldn't be the case
I've been making the extra drive to North Haven and Calloways...
Seed...
What is the ground cover you have between your stone pathway? Does it hold up in our extra hot full sun summer?
It is mazus reptans.
Yes, it holds up to the heat just fine. You could bake this stuff in an oven, and it would be fine, lol...
It is just REALLY thirsty! I have to water it a lot when it gets in the 100 range
Here it is in bloom. It blooms in Spring and Fall
I wish someone else would come along and start a nice nursery in Plano. Have you been up to the one in Allen - Puckett's Nursery? It's actually a nice little place and really would not be too far from you if you just went up Greenville and took a right on Main Street.
Taylor,
What nursery had 'bubba?' I think I need that plant!
Stacey-Puckett's?...I'll have to check it out! Thanks!
Melva-It was Four Seasons nursery right off hwy/university at loop 288
Yep, Puckett's Nursery. It's will be a mile or so down Main, on your left.
Thanks T, I may have to go and get one tomorrow.
you're welcome
:0)
Thanks for the id on the mazus reptans. We need a ground cover for between stones, that is the one. We tried two so far. Elfin Thyme seems to do the best so far. But the blooms on that one puts it to shame.