Local Extension may know or can find out if you don't get this nailed down here.

I received a question about the chindos through email. Thought I would share it, along with my reponse: Hi Just wanted to check in on how your chindos are doing. I sprayed very diligently at the beginning of summer but got busy and didn't do it regularly (although I have kept them well-watered; I'm in the first county south of Atlanta not under an absolute water ban this fall). They looked pretty good until fall and now I'm suddenly having a lot more of the strange leaf spot problem and I'm back to spraying them religiously. Did you ever get an answer from the extension service as to what is causing this? How are yours doing? I haven't been able to find anyone else but you with this problem!!! Any ideas? I really love them, but I'm getting more than a little concerned. Thanks. _______________________ I never got around to sending another sample over to the extension service. My chindos didn't do great over the summer. We didn't have as much problem with the spotting, but they didn't really thrive either. It is just in the last month that we started to see some new growth. The plants are about the same size as they were when I planted them in 2004. We didn't have to spray as often this summer. Maybe every 3-4 weeks. Maybe at least the spotting is getting under control. Sigh. Maybe we'll see some growth next spring. -Lori

I planted mine in full sun in 2004; they were 3 gallon sized plants and I planted three of them. They are over 7 feet tall now and have not ever bloomed. Last year, I figured the April freeze might've gotten to them (they lost a lot of tender leaves) and I had hoped they would bloom this year, but they didn't. I planted them for their foliage and a screening effect, so the lack of blooms hasn't bothered me, but I have been surprised that they've done nothing.

Kathy, The smell is very sweet. Personally, I adore sweet olives, they smell apricoty, the smell of the chindo is sweet. You will like it. They are very attractive too, I planted one last spring, but it hasnt' grown much, it might be the big trees around it. The flowers are also very pretty.