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"Possibility and promise greet me each day as I walk out into my garden. My vigor is renewed when I breathe in the earthiness and feel the dirt between my fingers. My garden is a peaceful spot to refresh my soul." Meems






Welcome to my Central Florida Garden Blog where we garden combining Florida natives, Florida-Friendly plants, and tropicals.

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Unidentified November Bloomer


My neighbor's shrub
My neighbor has several very large shrubs like the one above with oodles of white blooms dangling from every branch. Last autumn she dug up a small seedling to give me which I planted right away in the midst of the palmettos and kind of behind an oak tree when you are looking straight on the entire planting. I tend to place some of the plants she gives me in out of the way places since I am never sure how well they will do in my garden. Sometimes I regret that choice and end up moving them to more prominent positions.

Not only do I not know how well any particular one will do but, as is the case with so many tropical type plants that only bloom once a year, when they aren't blooming they are just large and green. I don't mind large and green but really this one is rather insignificant in appearance don't you think?

My shrub (or at least the beginnings of a shrub)
Honestly, I didn't keep that small seedling watered properly when I first planted it (the problem with placing in out of the way places) and I truly thought all was lost. In the spring and summer, to my surprise, it began shooting upward and sprouting leaves.

Now mine is blooming. One bloom. But it's a significant bloom. I especially like the way the many buds burst out with so many individual star-shaped flowers. It's even pretty before it blooms --and the way it drapes downward like a viney sort of thing.

As is usually the case, my neighbor has no idea what the name of the plant is. She has lots of plants she brought here with her from south Florida where she lived 20 years ago. Fortunately for me she has shared many of them with me. And in the end it doesn't matter what the name is if we can figure out how to grow it. But it's always nice to know.

Does anyone happen to know the name of this one? I'm looking at you, Green Jeans. :-)

18 comments:

  1. This looks like it may by Clerodendrum wallichii. You might want to do a Google search of the name to see if it looks like your plant.

    Jan
    Always Growing

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  2. Whatever it is Meems, it's quite a stately shrub, and the bloom is very cool. Is it fragrant?

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  3. Dear meems,

    One day google or another engine will allow us to scan images and search! Won't that save time! Until then...you have a beautiful shrub to enjoy and maybe a reader will recognize it.

    A neighbor gave me a bit of Korean mum and told me where she wanted me to plant it;-) Too funny.

    Gail

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  4. I have absolutely no idea what it might be. I can say I think it has a beautiful bloom. I like it light and airy ways.

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  5. The blooms are pretty! I love white blooms.

    My white butterfly ginger is defying frost and freeze (in a protected spot) and blooming like crazy!

    Cameron

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  6. This is no help at all. I have seen that before and cannot remember to save my life. It's very pretty and I love the foliage on it.

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  7. Meems, since it is a tropical I have no clue. :) But it is lovely and evidently not a fussy grower. That would be my kind of plant!

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  8. Meems, I think Jan hit the nail on the head... I'm going with Clerodendrum wallichii aka Clerodendrum nutans aka Nodding Clerodendrum. The photos over at Dave's Garden look just like yours. I'd say it's a keeper, according to the info over there, they'll have red and green berries right around the holidays.

    And thanks Jan! I thought it was a Clerodendrum but I would have sat here in my chair till I figured out which one. :-)

    Beautiful bloom!!!

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  9. Jan, Looks like you nailed it right out of the shoot. Thanks a bunch. I would never have suspected Clerodendrum and yet there are over 450 species. Do you grow this or did you just know what it was?

    Linda, it is always good to get other opinions--- helps one to see plants in a whole different light. I guess I've never thought of it as stately but I like the sound of it. Yes, it has a mild fragrance but not much to speak of.


    Hi Gail, Now that sounds high-tech and a stupendous idea, too. That would be too funny for someone to direct the planting of their 'gifted' pass along. Will be over shortly to see what the bees are up to at Clay and Limestone (caught a glimpse in my Google Reader lol).

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  10. i think it is a white starlike whactmacallit. it is very beautiful and willing to grow despite being placed in an inconspicuous spot. i would have such plants in my garden.

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  11. Dear Lisa, I have to agree with its light and airy ways. The length of the entire bloom is about 10-12 inches, too.

    Cameron, I DO love white blooms as well. These are not a stark white however... more on the ivory/greenish side which makes them sort of blend in with the dark green leaves. Maybe that's why I've not been overly impressed with this plant in the past.
    I am partial to all the gingers... don't have the butterfly ginger yet but I'm working on my collection. Glad yours is going beyond the call of duty for you.

    Darla, So now you know along with me. Here's another interesting name it is called...Bridal Veil. Now that's reason enough to have one growing!

    beckie, You couldn't be more right. Give me an easy grower and non-fussy plant and I'll make it fit in the garden, right?

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  12. Greenjeans: See why I summoned you over... I knew you'd figure it out for me. You are really good... Thanks. I like it that it doesn't need lots of water either. I guess I picked a good spot for it now that I read about it. I'll look forward to the berries, too. What a nice added feature.

    Marmee, yes, your guess is very close. LOL I do think I'm going to be happy for it to get as large as it is capable--- 6-7 feet tall. Then it will be more noticeable and actually it will then be considered a good spot.

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  13. ClerodendRON is correct.
    P.
    http://sicluceatlux.wordpress.com

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  14. It is a clerodendrum and it should smell heavenly at night. I have a friend who grows it and has offered me a plant. She says it has a wonderful smell. I refused the plant since I have several other cleos growing and they can be quite invasive. Yours looks wonderful and I may reconsider my friend's offer.

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  15. I've always found the name, Bridal Veil, much more fascinating than the plant. But islandgal is right, it should smell heavely.

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  16. I can imagine it as a 6-foot shrub covered in those graceful white, scented blooms. Ummmmm!

    I like Gail's idea of 'face recognition software' for plants. I want to be able to google a rose photo and get an id from the bloom.

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  17. islandgal: I have several Clerodendrums as well... some more invasive than others. After seeing the way this one grows at my neighbor's I wasn't too worried about it. Maybe down where you are it might be even more invasive???


    Sunita: I'm going to have to notice this bloom at night to check out the fragrance... what if I've missed that all together? I think we are thinking alike about the name and the plant, Sunita.

    Hi Marnie: I think Gail had an excellent idea, too. Wouldn't that make things so much easier?

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  18. I think the foliage is as pretty as the flowers. I'm looking forward to seeing what others have blooming for GBBD Saturday.

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Have a blessed day,
Meems


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