ARTICLES

The following article was taken from the January 1998 Tropical = Flowering Tree Society Quarterly by Dimitris Petropoulos.

New Introductions of = Flowering Trees

Winter has come to us in unrelenting waves of fierce winds accompanied by undulating temperatures and a lot of rain. Plants respond to these changes; many cast off their leaves and flowers, others stoically but subtly alter the color of their leaves.

For some, this is the time for evaluation of our gardening efforts. Those who may want to add something out of the ordinary, difficult to find, or just plain rare, face quite a challenge.

1. Radermachera capitata : around = 18 feet tall, likes full sun. The trees have straight

trunks, with an elegant canopy of smallish = leaves. The effect of the leaves is almost

fern-like. At the branch tips, 20-inch = long, dark strand, multi-stemmed, flower

spikes droop with many deep red, small = satin-textured, bell-shaped flowers.

These trees are laden with 2-foot long, = thin, bean-shaped pods, as well as new

developing flowers. This seems to indicate = a long, repetitive bloom cycle.

2. Randia spp. (possibly = exultata): reaches a mature height of about 15 feet in

dappled shade. The canopy is elliptical = with branches low to the ground. Large

shiny leaves and bouquets of star-shaped, = funnel-form flowers (opening a pale

chartreuse color, maturing to white) are = at the apex of each branch. The seeds

are about the size of a lemon and ripen to = a golden amber color. A full grown

tree is often laden with fruit and = flowers, at the same time, through the Spring

until early Winter.

3. Phaleria octandra: also grows to = about 15 feet in semi-shade, and is elliptical

in form. Leaves are 8 to 10 inches long, = naturally droopy, waxy-textured, and

accentuated by a burnt scarlet stem. It = has flowered in late Autumn and again in

early Winter in Miami. Four to five inch, = ice-white, porcelain-textured bouquets

crown each branch. The perfume is strong, = gently reminiscent of gardenia, jasmine,

and honeysuckle blended into one. This = open crown tree is often used as a feature

plant in Asian gardens. Our supply is = extremely limited now, but our small trees are

heavy with dark red, showy = fruit.

4. Saraca thaipengense: is an = evergreen treasure of a tree, maturing rather quickly

at around 20 feet. It has a sprawling = canopy, often wider than it is tall. The new

leaves come out in the shape of a horn = that unfolds, cascading 3 feet, in limp

fashion. Usually, the new leaves are a = pale mint green that changes to a soft

mustard rose before turning color again = into its mature emerald laceolate form.

Flowers are borne on the trunk, on = hardwood limbs, as well as tips of branches.

Enormous clusters of deep golden flowers = appear literally anytime, on mature

trees. In nature, it is often found = growing with its roots very near a source of water

but it flowers best after a dry spell. = Consider wind protection for the spectacular

new leaf feature, and partial shade to = encourage rapid growth.

5. Stemmadenia galeotiana: = originates in tropical America. A multi-layered canopy

up to 20 feet tall. It blooms from = mid-April to late Winter. When in full bloom,

perfume fills the area with a soft, musky = sweetness. A massive profusion of flowers

decks the branches, pure white against = lacquered, dark green leaves, and carpets

the ground with fallen blossoms. They grow = well in full sun, as well as in semi-shade,

and can even tolerate a little sea spray. = They can be maintained under 20 feet with

pruning and shaping. Seed pods are golden = in color, about 4 inches long, horn-

shaped, often in pairs.

6. Brownea grandiceps: is another = tree from our own hemisphere. Given time,

plenty of water, rich soil, and other = essentials, the canopy can billow up to 30

feet. In our calcareous soil, we expect = them to crest at about 20 feet. Flowers,

produced October through January, are 8-10 = inches across in bouquet-form,

along the hardwood stems, on the trunk, = and at the apex of the branches. The

color is variable ranging from a soft, = creamy pink, to a lush carmine red, flecked

and streaked with shades of blue and = purple tones. Even without flowers, it has a

beauty of form. In flower, it is = spectacular.

Most of these species from our collection = were planted in various South Florida gardens over the past five years, and are doing = very well. Special trees deserve a special effort, and they will reward you with special = beauty.

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