These rare plants- Anyone grow?

13 years ago

i just finished taking notes of intriguing plants from Rare and Unusual Plants(book).I'm needing inspiration. Anyone grow this vigorous non-hardy- here vine, Malabar Spinach, Basella? The tip leaves are supposed to be like spinach.

Same question for:

Lavatera Tanegra or Silver Cup;

Vietnamese Mint (supposedly tastes just like cilantro but more heat tolerant);

Exochorda (like a button bush but blooms e. summer)

Rhodochiton ( not hardy here but is it really vigorous outdoors?)it is just so fantastic. brought it back once from vancouver but killed it inside of course.

Stewartia Ovata grandiflora

thanks much,

mindy

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Comments (10)

calliope
13 years ago
I've grown silver cup mallow (great plant, and easy)
rhodochiton as well and it's easily started from seed. Not as vigorous as some other annual vines, but it's still worth the effort.
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laceyvail 6A, WV
13 years ago
I have Exochorda "The Bride". In flower in early spring it's really gorgeous. Not much to look at after that.
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ontnative
13 years ago
I saw tons of Vietnamese basil at our local grocery store garden centre, and it looks just like a common weed. I'm not sure about the mint.
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nandina
13 years ago
Mindy, Malibar spinach is best grown in a large pot supported on a strong 5' trellis. A beautiful, dark green, large-leafed plant which is edible. Easy from seed. Those with a greenhouse should grow it as a winter vegetable, also.
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woodyoak zone 5 southern Ont., Canada
13 years ago
I have Exocorda 'The Bride' too. It bloomed this year for the first time - it just sat there for about 3-4 years after planting, doing nothing much at all. I was about ready to give up on it. It was pretty in bloom though, but then went back to being pretty bland. I actually bought a 'Snow Day' one this year to see how it will do. I think I need to plant a clematis with them so it can climb over them and provide some color and interest later in the summer.
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arbo_retum
Original Author
13 years ago
woody and lacey, w/ the exocorda, i was interested in it because the book said it was wicked tolerant of dry shade. [My similar looking regular button bush(cephalanthus), which i love, is in boggy area. It wants to get giNORmous so i've whacked it this year(its second here).]

Don't know why you 2 chose exocorda, but you may want to consider my fav unknown (mostly)and VERY deep shade/drought tolerant, shrub, Rhodotypus.
Spring blooming and How do i love thee? Let me count the ways:I'm guessing it's in the kerria family, has same leaf but larger, and BEAUTIFUL single white open petal flowers(2" diam.). After bloom, berries go black (common name is jetbeard.) Lovely layered arching stems like neillia.

btw, that's a great idea for clematis- to grow them over shrubs that have gone by. never quite saw it like that before but i'm defly going to do this.

calliope, can i just scatter the lavatera or do i have to start w/ pots (if so, it will just never happen here, sigh).

I'm really enjoying hearing of all your experiences with these plants, but I really wish youall would put your location next to your zone in your i.d. so all of us could relate to your experiences and be able to apply them to our situations!!

thanks much again,
best,
mindy
www.cottonarboretum.com/

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:266123}}
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ladywindsurfer
13 years ago
Stewartia ovata is native to this area of the Southeast.
The other native species, Stewartia malacodendron (Silky Camellia) is also present, but is more abundant farther south, in the Upper Coastal Plain.
Often seen, when in bloom, in woods edge along highways.

Don't know many people that grow either one, although they are available at specialty nurseries in this area.
Seems that the Asian species, Stewartia pseudocamellia, is a more preferable garden plant!
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arbo_retum
Original Author
13 years ago
ladywind,AHHHHHH, I love you!! you said the magic phrase. For once, the plant that i actually have is preferable to the one in the rare plants book!!!!!(and besides, I can't grow it anyway, here in z.5!)

th you th you!!
mindy
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calliope
13 years ago
Mindy, I am in Appalachian S.E. Ohio zone six. I suspect Rose cup can be winter sown, or sown in situ come early spring, because I have seen some reseed themselves. Mine were all g'house started as part of my line. The rhodochiton, I grew as an observatory plant or summer hanging basket. Have no clue on a direct sow other than it would probably be done after danger of frost is past in spring.
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woodyoak zone 5 southern Ont., Canada
13 years ago
I have Rhodotypos scandens too.... :-) I got the Exochorda on a whim. It's growing in full sun until about 2:00 when it gets shaded by the garage. I got 'Snow Day' this year because it's supposed to have a neater, denser habit. Here is 'The Bride' blooming this past May with a Wayfaring tree (Viburnum lantana) in the background:
{{gwi:266124}}

It's not very clear, but the white showing just under the canopy of the pines on the left side of the path is the Rhodotypos May 18,2010. It's pretty loose and open in the dry shade but I like it there:
{{gwi:266125}}

There used to be a fabulous woodland nursery not too far from here. That's where I saw the Rhodotypus for the first time. They had a 5 acre woodland that was just gorgeous in spring. Unfortunately, the nursery is gone now, although I think the garden may have been given to the town where the nursery was.
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