Getting a new leaf on my Flamethrower Palm (Chambeyronia hookeri or macrocarpa)



Will be spectacular in a day or two



Now some NOID Bromeliads

You love red?? You need some red Plumerias!! They grow great in Florida...
Siam Red (aka Thailand Red) Plumeria
Love that Bromeliad!

Just got one of those, Malaysian Red, but it is just a cutting and rooting right now. Hope to have blooms by end of summer.

Should have another frond opening on the Flame Thrower (Chambreyonia hookeri) in a few days.

Anyone else got some red suggestions?

You need a Brazilian Red Cloak plant. It blooms in the winter!
Megaskepasma erythrochlamys - look it up in the database!

Ohhhh that is a wonderful suggestion. Can this be pruned to form a hedge? Does is bloom on new or old growth? Only ask as it may grow a bit tall for the area I am thinking to plant it.

Keep the suggestions coming.

I trim mine all the way back to about a foot and a half every year since in my case it also would get too big. It behaves just fine. It also has the most wonderful bright green foliage and I have never had any problems with pests or anything.

Hm. Last year my Brazilian Red Cloak bloomed in the winter, but this year it is blooming already! I took this pic yesterday. The blooms last a very long time, though.

I grew this one from a cutting I got last year, and it is about 4ft. tall now. It has fairly large leaves - 15in by 9in. - so I don't think it would make a terribly good hedge plant. Also it is somewhat tender to cold, so it might drop leaves if we get some cold weather. Nothing worse than a hedge with no leaves!

I plan to cut mine back in early spring like Hetty says she does, to keep it a nice size. The one I saw at Selby Gardens was about 10ft tall and wide.

How about Odontonema strictum? Blooms in the winter, summer, spring & fall. Grows fast. Very drought tolerant after establishment & it's "humming bird heroin" --- guaranteed to get them coming to your yard!
Firespike (Odontonema tubaeforme)

Cut off stems, stick them in water & they root at the joints or ground layer them. It will make a hedge but you'll be cutting it b/c it grows fast.

I noticed a friend's Red Cloak doing this too. Everything seems out of sync this year in South Florida.

My Red Cloak bloomed for months this winter, and is starting another bloom cycle now. Go figure! It did this last year, as is evident from the picture above.

Mine is a fairly young bush, only 5ft. wide and tall so I've never cut it back like you do, Hetty. It's competing with an oak tree, so maybe that's slowed it down a bit. Wonder if it's cut back in spring it might miss this summer bloom cycle.

dyzzypyxxy said:Wonder if it's cut back in spring it might miss this summer bloom cycle.

I think that is quite likely the reason why mine doesn't rebloom.

I will need to cut mine eventually, but maybe I will only cut the longest branches, and leave some so I can have the best of both worlds. (I can dream, at least )

Brazilian Red Cloak in its glory. As I recall, the blooms don't last quite as long in the summer as they do in winter.

Reminds me a bit of the fabulous Rhododendrons in British Columbia where I am from. Although of course the red on this is a calyx and the flowers are the little white tubular guys. Hummingbirds seem to like those little flowers, though.

Love that plant! I cut mine all the way back every year after it finishes its winter bloom cycle, so I don't get the summer one.

Firespike

Vinca


Have to agree, I so love red, too!

Chavez, I love your Flamethrower! About a month ago, or however long ago, we got a baby one. It hasn't opened the newest frond yet, but oooh I hope it looks like yours!


Flaflwrgrl, what are the cute flowers with red spikey --in your avatar-- called? And can I grow it in my zone?? lol.

to ATP!!!!

Those cute little flowers are common name Pineapple guava & yes! they will grow in your area. Drought tolerant, I love the color of the foliage, you can actually eat the flower petals & they make little fruits you can eat. See:
Pineapple Guava (Feijoa sellowiana)

Thanks, Flaflwrgrl, for the welcome and the name and the bonus extra info...what a wonderful forum!

You're most welcome TPTW! That's a heck of a lot to type --- your screen name that is, so I hope you don't mind that I shortened it as I have.
Oh, gulp, I just saw your signature line.
Shirley

We bought this place in March & the previous owners had planted a # of them but kept them as tightly clipped (too formal for moi) hedges but I can say that they are tough & their leaf color makes a really nice contrast to the deep, shiny green of holly (which are also formal hedges here). However, I can say that all the formal is going to the dogs! Things will be allowed to grow some under our care & when we can get around to it, many will be moved out from the walls of the house & allowed to become the plants they always wanted to be. Unfortunately, it's too late for these pineapple guavas to become tree form but I hope to propagate some cuttings for such. There are few small trees that can rival the pineapple guava in looks.

Re-doing landscaping is such fun, back-breaking, mind-boggling, time-consuming hard work. I LOVE that it's going to the DOGS! lol Wishing the very Best of Everything for you!!!