Closer look needed. Also: What geographic area is it growing in?

I took this photo at my mothers place in Dallas. Sorry, I cant provide a closeup until I go back to visit.

My Thanks for looking.

Foliage resembles a tropical Schefflera.

Ted

Thanks Ted, seeing that no one else has any suggestions I will check google for a match

I checked google and I dont think its an umbrella tree, does anyone else want to try?.

I see that a couple of members appear glued to this forum and answer all the easy ones, why not throw a few remarks at the harder ones?. I don't bite.

How about Persea borbonia?

Joe

You don't bite but if I disagree with someone else here
we get into a pissing match. Good luck.

Thanks for the effort Joe but that's not it either. Mr saltcedar, are you implying that you know but will not say?

Seems to me you're dead right, taitafenn! Let's hear again from ya, Saltcedar.

A friend who works as a gardener said it may be a Macadamia tree, I suppose it could be but I don't think so. Are there any tree specialists out there or people with botanival qualifications who can help?

It sure doesn't look like a macadamia.

Does your gardener have botanical qualifications?

Joe (who's sorry his botanical qualifications didn't help)

And saltcedar, how about e-mailing me directly and I'll post your answer and everybody will win?

Tree

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:329401}}

I'm sorry but the picture is not clear enough for me to check. Are those red flowers in the picture?

That's very similar to what you have but I doubt its your tree -- the pic is most likely a loquat if you want to check and avoid these games.

Regards

Ted

The antipodes got it!

Here is a link that might be useful: Eriobotrya deflexa Bronze Loquat

I don't think taitafenn's tree is a bronze loquat. Or any other loquat.

I'm sure saltcedars' tree is, though, as Ted was stating.

I also think that things might be getting a bit confusing for taitafenn.

If the tree were in California, I'd have guessed Tristaniopsis laurina.

Joe

Thanks again but its definately not a loquat tree. Back to the drawing board :)

taitafenn:

What might be useful to us and others who may attempt to identify your tree is to tell us why you think our guesses are NOT what the tree is.

For instance, "It's not a loquat tree because it doesn't have leaves with teeth".

Or "It's not a Persea because...."

Joe

Thank you Joe, thats a good idea. I googled Persea borbonia and found that it produces kind of berries, I also found that its a kind of avocado. Mum's tree doesnt have any berries. And its not Eriobotrya because all the ones I saw on the net have leaves with as you say teeth or kind of edged like a serrated knife. Also mum's plant has beautiful flowers when it blooms, not very often though and not very many of them. I think they are white or yellow and were produced in the fall. I think I would recognise them if saw them in a picture.

Thank you so much for your time.

How about Texas Olive, Cordia boissieri?

Joe

Taitafenn. I guess the 10 refers to US zone 10; warm to hot summers, mild winters, about the same as the Northern Rivers district of New South Wales, Australia. Has anyone considered it might be a Xanthostemon? Perhaps X. chrysanthus, commonly known as 'The Golden Penda'? Your picture resembles this tree closely, which is native to the tropical north coast of Queensland and, in fact is growing in my neighbour's yard and just beginning to show its beautiful heads of golden flowers. I myself have the dwarf form, released in recent years. Why not do a 'Google' on The Golden Penda and see how close it resembles your picture.

Thats not a bad offering funnelweb ( good to see another Aussie in here) --- however, I'd venture to say that another member of this forum might have his eyebrows past his hairline by now because the zone doesn't match the plant.

Regards,

Ted

Yes, thanks Tedhort - encouraging comments are few and far between in this 'Name That Plant' site. Dallas, Texas, zone 8, would normally seem to cool for Xanthostemom, but let's see what taitafenn has to say. I certainly dont think Eriobotrya deflexa Bronze Loquat (or any other Loguat) is the answer.
And Saltcedar: "the antiopedes got it!" Got what? Maybe you'd like to explain!

Thats it !!!!! -- thank you so much funnelweb you did it. When I googled it I saw those flowers and I knew instantly, I rang my mum and told her it was a golden penda and she remembered that she thought it had a name like a bear, panda ! I read your page background and your garden sounds beautiful. Thanks also to Joe for your effort, I appreciate it the time you put in to help.

Taita

I am stunned that a Xanthostemon would grow in Dallas.

It's hardy to USDA Zone 9a (20 °F).

Does Dallas not get any colder than that in winter? And it's ahuge tree.

Joe

Nice call funnelweb. It's obvious that you, unlike someone else, are clued up enough to realize that plants will grow where they feel like it and not where zone gradings dictate.

Regards,

Ted (The antipodes)

I guess I'm not "clued up enough". Sigh.

Joe

You're correct Joe Xanthostemon won't grow in Dallas, Texas.
Typically gets to the mid teens F (-9c) and has gone below
zero F (-18) on several occasions. Blind leading the blind.

Here is a link that might be useful: Golden Penda

Just to clarify -- I was not referring to Gardenguru1950 in my last remark ( I hadn't seen your post prior to placing my own otherwise I would have re-worded it so as not to imply it was directed to you). And as for not growing in Dallas, well, based on what we've seen and heard here, looks to me that saltcedar can't acknowledge the correctness of ID's which don't conform with his own. The person submitting the query has even indicated that the plant doesn't flower well -- perhaps its in a microclimate sufficient to promote growth whilst still imposing other limitations. Don't be so quick to dismiss the adapability of some plants !!

Ted

Joe (Gardenguru 1950)after Tedhort you're the most 'clued up' contributer to this site, and more a gentleman than some, so don't sell yourself short Pal. And Ted, maybe it's living down in the antipedes but seems we think alike, I am suceeding with some plants far more suited to cooler climes: roses suited up to US zone 9 (I'm zone 10ish); clematis, which are blooming and folks say forget it, they wont grow here, local nurseries wont even stock them; Lamium galeobdolen 'Herman's Pride'; Campanula; magnolia and others. Tait. glad us antipodeans could be of assistance and that you liked my page; that was written some years ago and since then I've moved and am now gardening on an acre and a half. Much more hard work, I can tell you, doesn't leave me much time to compete with others here who I suspect mustn't have much else to do in life. Also I no longer visit here much on account of the percieved barbs that one is subjected to by one or two regulars. I suspect they are driving good gardeners away. Having said that though, let me say that most folks here do do their darndest to provide accurate and professional information to enquirers and if all of us restricted our comments to just that maybe it would be a better experience for all.

Info. below may better explain why we can't grow many
plants in Texas. It's not just the absolute minimums but
the duration of freezing temperatures.
Note 1996 @ 136(7)hrs Consecutive Hours Below Freezing.
Some years it's possible to ice skate on lakes and the ground
freeze several inches down.

Most Consecutive Hours Below Freezing
295 hrs 7 am Dec 18 - 2 pm Dec 30, 1983
178 hrs 1 am Jan 23 - 11 am Jan 30, 1948
170 hrs 9 am Feb 1 - 11 am Feb 8, 1905
158 hrs 12 am Jan 27 - 2 pm Feb 2, 1951
139 hrs 5 pm Jan 3 - 12 pm Jan 9 1942
137 hrs 5 pm Jan 30 - 10 am Feb 5, 1996
Most Consecutive Hours at or Below Freezing
295 hrs 7 am Dec 18 - 2 pm Dec 30, 1983

211 hrs

3 pm Jan 15 - 10 am Jan 23, 1930
178 hrs 1 am Jan 23 - 11 am Jan 30, 1948
170 hrs 9 am Feb 1 - 11 am Feb 8, 1905
163 hrs 5 pm Jan 16 - 12 pm Jan 23, 1978
158 hrs 12 am Jan 27 - 2 pm Feb 2, 1951
139 hrs* 5 pm Jan 3 - 12 pm Jan 9 1942
136 hrs 6 pm Jan 30 - 10 am Feb 5, 1996
* An additional 58 hours occurred from 6 am Jan 1 to 3 pm Jan 3, 1942. The temperature climbed to 33 degrees at 4 pm on Jan 3. Combined with the 139 hours above, this makes a total of 197 inconsecutive hours.

Here is a link that might be useful: National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office

No one temperature corresponds to a particular USDA zone, the zones are based on average annual minimum temperature ranges of 0F to 10F, 10F to 20F etc. Any given winter in a zone may have a lowest temperature outside of the average range indicated, including well below that range.

Duration of cold is important because when cold lingers it results in penetration of soil by frost. That is why plants hardy to brief periods of rather low temperatures in the South do not persist in the North, even in milder places such as Seattle where minimum temperatures are not much lower. A palm coming through one or two nights of 17F in California has not demonstrated that it can live in Seattle for an indefinite period without protection.

The plant at moms is growing in a courtyard with very reflective quartz or something like quartz walls about head high. My dad was a construction engineer for 35 years and much to momÂs dismay many years ago he surfaced the area with a dark maroon, almost black bitumen. On some days you cannot walk on it because of the heat it generates, even in winter. On one side there is a higher wall made of clay or mud which is taller than the tree providing wind protection, looks kind of ugly by the way. There is also a well established cactus garden in the yard. What I am trying to say is that temperatures in there are usually much higher than surrounding areas. Admittedly, the tree looks quite ragged for long periods and on several occasions has lost a lot of its leaves but seems to recover OK.

As far as its identification is concerned my mom contacted a local horticulturalist after Mr funnelweb identified the tree and he actually attended the house and confirmed Mr funnelwebÂs observation. There is no doubt now about its identity. Thank you for the deluge of statistics, unfortunately the tree is not interested. I donÂt know too much about the doÂs and donÂts of plants but this one is doing OK.

One more thing, I prefer not be referred to as "blind", perhaps Mr saltcedar should demonstrate some tolerance for relative newcomers and not be so quick to highlight their lack of knowledge in a public forum.

Thank you all again.

taitafenn:

I would LOVE to see your mom's tree when it is in bloom.

Would you mind posting us again when that happens, please?

Joe

No need for me to say who's wrong or right, 'The Weather'
will make short work of that tree one day soon I predict.

Of course Joe, it would be my pleasure

Taita

That would be nice to see Taita -- I look forward to some more pics and yes saltcedar, 'The Weather' may kill this tree one day but it will die as a Xanthostemon !!

Ted

Mr Funnelweb! I guess I should end my messages as tedhort and some others do. Just call me Bill, Tait. What a long tale this message has become and gees, how desperate to prove everybody must be wrong but hisself by going to the extreme of digging out all those freeze stats for all those years. Some folks have nothing better to do I guess. Old salty, on this one, give up!

Regards
Bill

Where's the fun in that? ;-)

At least it was not a deluge of rain.

Not that I would not mind one here at the present time. I simply cannot water enough.

BBoy you got no-rain problems? I haven't seen a drop here for 3 months; lawns are so brown and dry they're starting to blow away in our Spring time winds (windy season right now) and soon I expect the local council to declare water restrictions. Nearly every day I'm spending an hour or two on the end of the hose thinking about my next water bill. No time for digging and planting and other things, I'm busy just trying to keep plants alive!

Getting tired of things wilting between waterings. Showers are forecast but it is normal here for the rainy season to not really kick in until November - when the most assertive storms of the year blow in.

The annual precipitation curve here is the opposite of that of Florida, with rainfall peaking in winter and bottoming out in summer. All plants not adapted to a Mediterranean rainfall pattern are liable to need substantial irrigation to perform or even survive on some soils. Brown lawns are prevalent in summer. The common perception of Seattle as something akin to a sodden rainforest is false.

Hey funnelweb, it was reported that the farmers west of Sydney, over at Broken Hill, were losing topsoil at the rate of 75,000 tons per hour during that last wind storm. From what I here a lot of it was blown up your way --- if I bring a trailer can I load some up and bring it back ????

Ted

taitafenn:

Jimmy L. Turner, the Senior Director of Gardens at the Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Garden, is interested in visiting your mom's tree.

If you don't mind, please e-mail me directly (via GardenWeb) and I'll pass on the address.

Thanks,
Joe

I haven't been back here lately, too busy - my brother-in-law, a great mate, ex army SAS (tougher than the US Seals, well, to save an argument, at least equal), died the other day. Anyway: Joe, be very interesting to see what Jimmy L. Turner has to say. Ted: the sky turned grey - the dust was so fine even my roses suffered, I've never seen the like in all my years, the worst dust storm in 70 years they say and it travelled right up the coast, a thousand kms or more, on a front of over 800 kms (about 500 miles but don't argue with me on that point please) so, 75,000 tons of top soil per hour, unbelievable Ted. I got a little, over my house, my car, even the leaves of my plants but it was so fine I doubt if I could collect a shovel-full. I reckon most would now be in the Pacific or over New Zealand. And then, 2 days later, we had another overnight, though not as bad. BBoy, wilting between waterings, mate, I am fighting to save my Aussie natives - known the world over as drought resistant but I'm loosing some. Today I spent 2 hours on the end of a hose; My Waratah (Telopea speciosissima) is coming into flower but I noticed late yesterday the flowers are browning and not developing, so I soaked the bush-cum-tree in water. I don't want to loose that. Is it Global Warming? I, too, am just now coming into our wet season, perhaps a month earlier than you (semi-tropics, edge of the monsoon season), and the weather bureau is saying we may get a storm late Friay. F..., I hope so.

I think it resembles a chico tree, found in many Asian countries.

Michelle

Here is a link that might be useful: marketing chiropractor

Taitafenn, we were hoping to hear news that Jimmy Turner had visited the tree.
Please give us an update.