http://robsplants.com/plants/SolanAtrop.php - This guy has them on his seed trade list and I got about 50 seeds for $1 http://robsplants.com/seed/trade.php Plus he has spiny tomato plants too! This guy has the best seeds for cheap. Preston Here is a link that might be useful: Robs Plants

Hi Cheryl: What I see in your picture is what looks like a very healthy purple Datura, in the front, and a gorgeous yellow Brugmansia. Can't see a Solanum pyracanthum in your picture. Here's a pic of Solanum pyracanthum - http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.mytho-fleurs.com/images/fleurs_tropicales_2/solanum%2520pyracanthum.JPG&imgrefurl=http://www.mytho-fleurs.com/images/fleurs_tropicales_2/page_04.htm&h=487&w=650&sz=40&tbnid=XofS48TxaiMJ:&tbnh=101&tbnw=135&hl=en&start=1&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dsolanum%2Bpyracanthum%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26client%3Dsafari%26rls%3Den%26sa%3DN If you don't have that Solanum but would like to check out my trade list feel free to send me your trade list, thru this site. Cheers, J J

Jay, I think you've nailed it, thanks! I read info on more sites and it could be either S. laciniatum or S. aviculare. Both are commonly called Kangaroo Paw and are closely related...possibly just different varieties of the same species. I would have guessed the plant to be an annual, but sounds like it's a tender perennial/shrub...surviving future winters better if it makes it thru its 1rst one.

Its not a vine Miranda - more of a large, sprawling shrub capable of supporting itself perfectly well. It can be trained against a sunny wall and will provide masses of very showy, rich blue flowers in large clusters for much of the summer. It is a superb shrub when growing well, but is somewhat frost tender and can only cope with light occasional frosts. Down here in South Devon, it self sets very freely and is an extremely vigorous grower reaching 7 or 8 feet in its first year from seed and often continues flowering throughout winter. Thankfully it can be pruned hard almost at any time except during really cold weather, so keeping it in check is not a problem. A warm, sunny spot and well drained soil will help it along and to be certain of not losing it, save a few berries so you can grow spare seedlings should you lose the main plant in winter. Actually, the true 'Kangaroo Apple' is a distantly related species - Solanum aviculare, which is less of a sprawler with rather fine, willow-like leaves and a more elegant style of growth. Unfortunately, it is even more tender and as with laciniatum, young plants race away and flower with great enthusiasm in their first year. However, they are usually badly hit by cold weather and not really suitable for growing permanently out of doors except in the warmest of regions.