All members of the Sterculiaceae family. Yes we eat/drink them too, but this plant is gorgeous! Named for Joseph Dombey, a French botanist who worked in Peru and Chilé, collecting plants.
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| Dombeya planted in May 2008 |
We planted this shrub in May 2008. See, tucked in the corner, with big leaves, about knee high? Now when we walk down the driveway it waves exuberantly at us, about two metres high and over the concrete panel wall (abhorred by upmarket areas, which is why we fit in so happily here).
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| Dombeya burgessiae |
‘Pink wild pear’ Dombeya burgessiae. There once was a Miss Burgess of Birkenhead, which invites a limerick. One of those plants I favour, a shrub or small tree. Expected to reach about four metres high and wide, probably a bit less with our hot summers. Found naturally from Kwazulu-Natal (that is sub-tropical) then north up to Tanzania. It is eaten by black rhinos, and the bark can be made into baskets.
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| Dombeya burgessiae |
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| Dombeya burgessiae |
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| Dombeya burgessiae - leaf detail and reverse |
So many plants bear the name cordata or cordifolium. And I’m left thinking you call That a Heart?! But this shrub bears a profusion of delightful hearts. Sadly the leaves sulk and pine away in captivity, NOT happy, cut and picked in a vase. Those tropical looking big velvety leaves flourish against that shady south facing wall, and will appreciate dappled shade. Exactly what I want for our developing Woodland Walk.
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| Dombeya burgessiae - leaf collage |
A few lines, written in 1887, published in 1896, and never out of print since according to Housman-Society UK, lifted with joy from
A.E. Housman’s A Shropshire Lad.
Loveliest of trees, the cherry now
Is hung with bloom along the bough,
Now of my three score years and ten,
Twenty will not come again,
About the woodland I will go
To see the cherry hung with snow.
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| Dombeya burgessiae flower |
I like to pick these flower heads, to turn them up, so I can see into their 'faces'. Looking at those faces thru Esther's eyes Looking-up-Skirts-of-Flowers. I only noticed the first two trusses of flowers today, so I will wait patiently before I pick any.
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| Dombeya burgessiae collage |
There are 190 in the family from Africa, Madagascar and the islands. Only 7 species are South African. In a range thru white to lighter and deeper pink. Tolerates light frost and drought. Can be grown from seeds. What more can we ask for! My facts come from PlantZAfrica
21 comments:
Thanks for the link - it's wonderfully interesting to see what's happening behind those petals, isn't it!
All the same - I specially like your leaf photos.
Esther
Diana,
I LOVE the intimacy of focus on the leaves...the subtle color and texture variations. The cherry blossoms pick out the hints of pink and red in your subject. And great quote!
Thanks,
GG
It's lovely to see other flowers and gardens from other countries.
Please visit mine www.mysisterdalesgarden.com
Thanks - this is wonderful! I'm familiar with Dombeya but have never seen it actually planted in a garden. And I love the leaf pictures. Very handsome!
HI Diana: Just wanted to say Hi and let you know I visited your blog. Enjoyed my visit as usual keep up ythe good work.
Have a great day,
John
Amazing photos! I just love the play of the light, and now I'm even more embarrassed about my last post's photos. But days are getting shorter and workdays longer, so some days the flash has to do...
Sounds like a great plant, though at 4 meters, a pretty tall shrub.
I have to agree with everyone - great photo's... Dombeya is one of my favourite shrubs/trees for all kinds of reasons. If I can find an excuse to plant a couple in a clients garden I'll jump at the chance.
Hi Diana, love the photos, and info about a shrub that up till now I had never heard of. Eaten by black rhinos sounds so exotic. And Woodland Walk sounds so inviting. cheers, catmint
Hello Diana...what gorgeous photos. The two sides of the Dombeya burgessiae leaf showed such detail and color. As always love the pink blossoms.
Thank you for your kind comment on yesterday's post. I so appreciate it.
Town Mouse - Gardening gone Wild's Gold Medal photo contest winner?!
Ross in Durban - you and I know and love our plant ;>)
HI Diana: Just saw your comment on Liza and John's Garden. The Hybrid is a Gas powered Volkswagon made to look like a daisy.
Have a great day,
John
I love this plant ... have had one in my garden for a while now and it flowers profusely every year :)
Dear Diana, those leaves are charming just like the flowers whose color rarely appear on trees at our climate. Eszter
Hi Diana,
I can't figure out a way to send you this picture, so I've posted it to a Flickr account. Here's a photo of aluminum dogs on a chain link fence:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/49229492@N06/5042225358/
Cheers!
Elizabeth
A delightful post, Diana, Dombeya burgessiae, stunning! Always something new to learn/enjoy whenever I visit. Thank you :)
A very pretty plant and photos to match. I was not familiar with Dombeya, but it has beautiful leaf structure and texture.The flowers are nice too.It is so interesting to see plants from around the world in gardens rather than local botanical gardens.
Hello Diana, lovely photos i do love the cordata shape in a leaf. Over here in southern england we also have black rhinos that sneak into our garden at night and eat the bark of our trees...quite a nuisance really!
Hopefully the concrete panel wall will keep out the black rhinos. It would be a shame if those lovely flowers were eaten before you picked them!
I lov the dombeya b in flower!
I do love those velvety leaves, and what a beautiful flower. Thanks for the Houseman poem, too. My maternal grandfather was a Shropshire lad, so I feel a connection to them.
Your blog just keeps getting better and better every time I visit.
Diana, As the garden winds down here, it is wonderful to see your spring blossoms (leaves, too, but I'm partial to the flowers :-)) That is a gorgeous clear shade of pink! -Jean
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