It's the 'Secret Gardens of Ilsington' this weekend(only £5 per ticket all proceeds to the local school)-we have pottered around 12/15 and managed to miss the drizzle and bought a few pots of plants very reasonably
The penultimate garden I went to (lily fell asleep so DH stayed in the car with her-we went in the car for those further afield as Lily couldn't walk that far!)had what the lady said was a Chilean Firecracker-I've looked them up but can only find tiny plants-this was a huge tree
I would really like one and wondered if anyone had one and how easy it was to look after?
Many thanks-any info would be much appreciated
Chilean Firecracker
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alan refail
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Hi Jopsy
Would 30 feet suit you
Embothrium coccineum is the thing to look up - otherwise known as Chilean Firebush/Firetree.
Funny how people change names to sound better/more exciting. We never had asparagus when I was young - but we did have plenty of Sparrowgrass.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embothrium
Alan
Would 30 feet suit you
Embothrium coccineum is the thing to look up - otherwise known as Chilean Firebush/Firetree.
Funny how people change names to sound better/more exciting. We never had asparagus when I was young - but we did have plenty of Sparrowgrass.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embothrium
Alan
Cred air o bob deg a glywi, a thi a gei rywfaint bach o wir (hen ddihareb Gymraeg)
Believe one tenth of what you hear, and you will get some little truth (old Welsh proverb)
Believe one tenth of what you hear, and you will get some little truth (old Welsh proverb)
Hi Jopsy,
If you grow the seeds today you would be a very old lady by the time you would reach anything approaching a tree.
I saw one in the grounds of the nurses home in Bristol when visiting my daughter many years ago it was massive. I have seen many others but nothing to touch this one.
They are magnificent and there is no other word to describe them.
JB.
If you grow the seeds today you would be a very old lady by the time you would reach anything approaching a tree.
I saw one in the grounds of the nurses home in Bristol when visiting my daughter many years ago it was massive. I have seen many others but nothing to touch this one.
They are magnificent and there is no other word to describe them.
JB.
Hi Jopsy,
The gardens around the nurses home would have been planted around the time the building was built.
It is a very old house probably built about 1800.
I will say that once you have seen the tree in bloom you will never ever forget it!
JB.
The gardens around the nurses home would have been planted around the time the building was built.
It is a very old house probably built about 1800.
I will say that once you have seen the tree in bloom you will never ever forget it!
JB.
Jopsy
Embothriums are tricky to 'keep' growing in a pot - they tend to deteriorate when containerised for any length of time. They are protea family and need a low phosphate level which is unusual compared with most hardy nursery stock. You will be unlikely to find anything larger than a 3litre pot. Best thing to do is get one asap and plant it. Choose one which is securely rooted out with nice dark green wholesome looking leaves - don't worry how small it is - that is a common mistake when choosing woody plants - quality and health is the key for sucess. Prepare the ground well over an area rather than just a hole - i'e cultivate a 'bed' for it - no fertiliser. If you do want to grow it on, you will need to make up a compost with no P in the mix.
Once established, should be no problem - I know many big specimens. Some are on clay/shillet in South Devon some on Dartmoor like the one you saw, and a big one just down the road from me on what was sandy heath - relatively dry.
Mole
Embothriums are tricky to 'keep' growing in a pot - they tend to deteriorate when containerised for any length of time. They are protea family and need a low phosphate level which is unusual compared with most hardy nursery stock. You will be unlikely to find anything larger than a 3litre pot. Best thing to do is get one asap and plant it. Choose one which is securely rooted out with nice dark green wholesome looking leaves - don't worry how small it is - that is a common mistake when choosing woody plants - quality and health is the key for sucess. Prepare the ground well over an area rather than just a hole - i'e cultivate a 'bed' for it - no fertiliser. If you do want to grow it on, you will need to make up a compost with no P in the mix.
Once established, should be no problem - I know many big specimens. Some are on clay/shillet in South Devon some on Dartmoor like the one you saw, and a big one just down the road from me on what was sandy heath - relatively dry.
Mole
Hi Jopsy,
The propagation information that I have gathered over the years says sow the seeds of Embothriums Feb-April under heat or take root cuttings Dec-January.
Probably best to buy a plant as Mole suggests if you are hell bent on having one.
I remember now seeing another very large tree in the Barnstable area which is much more your sort of country.
JB.
The propagation information that I have gathered over the years says sow the seeds of Embothriums Feb-April under heat or take root cuttings Dec-January.
Probably best to buy a plant as Mole suggests if you are hell bent on having one.
I remember now seeing another very large tree in the Barnstable area which is much more your sort of country.
JB.