September Song

» ______MarcellaGM - Does anyone out there have any information on the Michelia's? I

Does anyone out there have any information on the Michelia's? I could'nt find much about them on the internet or in my reference books. Marcella
Pacific Northwest Garden

-- posted by ______MarcellaGM

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» Deb_TT - Marcella, I looked it up in one of my books and it is in the

Marcella,

I looked it up in one of my books and it is in the Magnoliaceae family. The two listed varieties they show are not hardy in our region, but there are 45 species. They are beautiful with their magnolia-like blossoms. I wonder if Gay the Tasmanian Journal editor is growing this one? It can be wintered over in a cool greenhouse and grown in a soil based potting mix with peat or composted bark. They need shade form midday sun. Growing outside they need fertile, well drained soil with lots of added humous. Hope this helps, I have not grown this one, just looked it up.

Debra Teachout-Teashon

Two Rainy Side Gardeners

Pacific Northwest Lighthouses

-- posted by Deb_TT

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» ______MarcellaGM - Thanks Debra, I must ask Gay about Michelias. I think a few peo

Thanks Debra, I must ask Gay about Michelias. I think a few people here in the Northwest are taking chances on some of the more tender plants and will be quite upset when they all freeze to the ground during a Siberian winter. The last one we experienced was in 91' or 92' I believe. One old rosarian told me that the Northwest, mind you I'm talking about the valleys and coastal areas, has a super cold spell about once every twenty years. Maybe I still have time to enjoy some of the tender plants before they are blasted away by the cold. The banana scented Michelia really does have flowers that smell like bananas. Marcella
Pacific Northwest Garden

-- posted by ______MarcellaGM

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» Michael - Marcella, My favourite plant is Nemesia Confetti. I did an artic

Marcella, My favourite plant is Nemesia Confetti. I did an article about some time back.

It is the most wonderful plant and flowers from April until November. I think that it is fairly frost hardy. Have you got it or have you herd of it?
What is your zone temp?

Michael J Campbell.

Gardening in Ireland

-- posted by Michael

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» ______MarcellaGM - Michael, Nemesia 'Confetti' sounds darling. We usually grow Ne

Michael, Nemesia 'Confetti' sounds darling. We usually grow Nemesia as an annual here.

I live in what is called the Willamette Valley. Our weather is considered mild but with enough cold to grow some of the largest number of nursery stock in the country. Many of the countries fruit and shade trees, deciduous shrubs and broad leaved evergreens start out life here. I hope you will excuse my bragging but roses and rhododendrons both attain near perfection in our climate which features moderately cold winters and a long summer growing season. I have to admit that I thought I was living on the Mediteranean this summer. There was no sign of rain for two and half months. Later the rains will arrive and it will seem like Ireland. Marcella
Pacific Northwest Garden

-- posted by ______MarcellaGM

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» Gay_Klok - Marcella I am quickly answering you by giving a link to a pho

Marcella

I am quickly answering you by giving a link to a photo I showed of Michelia doltsopa but I will answer more fully when I file a photo of M yunnanensis which I was going to use in my next photo

<img src="http://www.suite101.com/userfiles/2779/Su101pea.jpg"align=left>Come for a stroll in my gardens

Tasmanian Garden Journal

-- posted by Gay_Klok

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» Gay_Klok - Marcella, I will answer you more fully when I process a photo

Marcella,

I will answer you more fully when I process a photo of Michelia yunnanensis which I will use for my next article. In the meantime, here is a photo of M doltsopa

<img src="http://www.suite101.com/userfiles/2779/Su101pea.jpg"align=left>Come for a stroll in my gardens

Tasmanian Garden Journal

-- posted by Gay_Klok

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» Gay_Klok - Marcella I will show the other photo later but thought I had

Marcella

I will show the other photo later but thought I had better answer you now as I will be off to the country for 4 days as our Open Weekend is next Saturday and you know all about that :-]

I am not familiar with the exact Michelias you mention in your article.

These are the type I am familiar with

M doltsopa - can grow to 30ft and grows and flowers quite quickly. Himalayan, slender whilst young but grows broader with age [we have had to prune some bottom branches already] - Large, perfumed white flowers, grey-green leaves. We grow it well in Tasmania but I feel it requires quite a warmish climate

M yunnanensis - small about 15ft, small, furry brown buds [lovely] that open to round, white flowers, prominent yellow stamens, perfumed and hardy in cold with protection from wind. Slow growing so good for small gardens or even container gardening. I have heard of this being grown as a hedge

These are the two I grow.

I only know Michelia figo of the two you mention in your article which I also grow and will try and take a photo

M figo - syns Magnolia fuscata, Michelia fuscata,Port-Wine Magnolia, Banana shrub - Slow growing, compact shrub from China, can grow to 30ft, bears small, shiny dark green leaves and tiny, spring-blooming heavily scented cream flowers streaked with purple. Pruning will produce heavy flowering

Michelias are related to the Magnolias and are suitable for tropical, sub-tropical to a few species that grow in the cool foothills of the Himaayas. Oil is obtained from some species to use in perfumes and cosmetics

<img src="http://www.suite101.com/userfiles/2779/Wpeawee.jpg"align=left>Come for a stroll in my gardens

Tasmanian Garden Journal

-- posted by Gay_Klok

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