I love it when my Brownea puts out a new flush of leaves. I can see why they call it 'handkerchief" plant.
Brownea
That is pretty cool. It seems like some other plants naturally put out new growth that is also droopy and off colored but maybe not to the extent that the Brownea has (jade vine is one that I can think of that I used to have, and some passiflora have wilty looking new foilage). I think I read somewhere, that it is a defense mechanism to make the insects not want to eat those new leaves... Is that the case with the Brownea as well? What do the flowers look like? You always have such interesting plants!
angel,
I haven't had flowers yet, but hopefully I will have some soon! I grew this small tree from a very small (about a 10") seedling that a grower in South FLorida traded to me. I have 2 species, this one and a different one. This one is the faster growing
Angel, the flowers are spectacular! The are a really showy rosette of multiple flowers packed densely together, one is red and one is orange I think. I would really love to have a brownea one day.
Speaking of handkerchief plants, Goth- do you have Sarracca indica?
That's a very cool picture, Hetty.
No, I don;t have a Saracca! Wish I did!
I have about 4 or so different Saraca species, some are better than other with new leaf color-the ones with pink leaves are the best. Maniltoa-with white leaves & Browneopsis with maroon & green spots are the nicest ones I have leaf-wise. The Brownea & Saraca have the nicest flowers.
Popper-do you have a greenhouse? I have 2 Saraca indica and the largest is in a 18" wide pot. Including the pot the tree is 9 ft high and 6 ft wide.
Problem is that it's never flowered.
I'm ready to stick it in the ground but it will be in partial shade.
It's too big for the greenhouse anymore.
Any info on getting these to flower?
The bloom at the nursery where I work- at a size much smaller than yours, too. Not sure why. What is your pH? Any particular fertilizer that you are using?
Some will bloom earlier than others, but should bloom when potted. From what I have experienced S declinata blooms when pretty small, 4 feet give or take. S indica is pretty easy too. Thaipingensis needs to be larger.