posted
I just bought a lovely plant that I've never seen before. There wasn't much online about it. It's called Duranta, Sapphire Showers. Is it a perennial? I would think so as it's shrubby. It has purple and white flowers that have a vanilla fragrance. It's beautiful and I'd like to learn more about it and how to care for it.
* * * * Plants: 1772 | From: Southern California, USA | Registered: Feb 2006
| Seeded: 207.200.116.139
posted
Duranta is a tropical plant, so it isn't hardy. It can withstand temps in the 30's for brief periods, maybe even the 20's, but won't survive consistent freezing temps. I would treat it like datura and other tropicals and grow it in a pot and bring it inside for the winter if you are in a cold zone. It blooms on new wood.
posted
Thanks, but the temps will be OK, I live in southern California. I have it in a pot about 12 inches in diameter. I'm wondering what it does - grow wider, longer, is it fuchsia-like, etc.
* * * * Plants: 1772 | From: Southern California, USA | Registered: Feb 2006
| Seeded: 207.200.116.139
posted
Habit and Cultural Information Category: Shrub Family: Verbenaceae (Vervains) Origin: West Indies (North America) Evergreen: Yes Flower Color: Blue Bloomtime: Summer Synonyms: [Duranta repens 'Sapphire Showers'] Height: 15-25 feet Width: 8-12 feet Exposure: Full Sun Irrigation Req.: Medium Water Needs Winter Hardiness: 20-25° F Poisonous: Yes
Durantas are also called "Golden Dew Drops." The name applies to the orange berries that appear on the plant after flowering. Not all varieties of Duranta will produce the berries. Durantas are easy to grow and bloom. They can also be trained in different shapes. Trimmed on a regular basis it will become a shrub. It can be grown on a trellis as a vine. Or shaped like a patio tree with only 1 trunk. If not trimmed it all it will form a round mound with weeping branches. A good trim is recommend once in a while, specially after the flowers to encourage bushiness. Durantas bloom on the new growth, therefore, with more branches you will get more flowers. Golden Dew Drops can grow anywhere from partial sun to full sun. The soil has to have good drainage. Fertilization should be done 3-4 times a year and a slow release fertilizer is preferable. Durantas can flower just about any time of the year but normally there are 2 nice flushes of flowers. One in the spring and the other in the fall.
* * * * We are all under the same stars... therefore we are never far apart. Plants: 30076 | From: Washington, the state that is... | Registered: Aug 2004
| Seeded: 66.235.45.83
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