Embothrium coccineum
Bradley
The following thread was started by Bradley, PDX on March 24, 2006 at 6:37 am PST
I would say superb. We have a bunch in the yard of varying sizes/ages including some 1st year seedlings over the years. None of them has been affected by temperatures as low as -11C (Jan 2004). BUT they are vulnerable to Phytophthora and that killed our biggest tree in just a few weeks. Planting them somewhere with extreme drainage would be beneficial. If they get conditions they like, they are very fast growing, if a bit leggy. They look nice in small groves too.
The above followup was added by ken b (E Vancouver) on March 24, 2006 at 6:53 am PST.
At least that is what I have been told. I had one growing nicely and it suddenly croaked during summer. I did fertilize it.
The above followup was added by Jeff, Victoria, 8b on March 24, 2006 at 12:12 am PST.
Bradley, as Ken mentioned they are extremely susceptible to Phyto. Unfortunately I can say from my own experience that they are also prone to rust. One up and died on me quite suddenly early autumn, after being quite healthy up to then. Rust got it. My garden is full of rust.
It's the Phosphate in fertilizer that kills them. It will kill them within hours. It's like herbicide to them. The whole family has fine roots that are fragile.
If you keep them away from Embothrium hazards, they are probably the most spectacular tree you could ever grow here (Telopea oreades and its hybrids with T. speciosissima being possible rivals).
I replaced my Embothrium, and I am happy to say that it survived the winter. It must have been an evergreen sort; it never did go deciduous even in the frigid weather of February. They can be anything from fully evergreen to fully deciduous. Narrow-leaved forms tend to be coldhardier than rounder-leaved forms. The species ranges all the way from at least Ecuador to the straights of Magellan!! And it is polymorphic.
The above followup was added by Rob Wagner on March 24, 2006 at 2:23 pm PST.
I should have mentioned...
Obviously don't fertilize them with anything containing Phosphate. Beware of hidden Phosphates; when in doubt don't do it. They are not heavy feeders anyway; their "Protaceous roots" are designed for poor soils.
The tricky thing is dealing with root diseases. Phytophthorea is common here but not as bad as in climates with warm, humid summers.
Ken said that drainage is good, and that is true, and I would add "and good aeration". Lighter, and preferably inorganic, soils are better. In habitat they grow potentially in organic soils (such as in the Chilean rainforest!), BUT there is no native Phytophthora, and the climate is not particularly condusive to the stuff that has been inadvertantly introduced.
You might try keeping other things away from them (potential carriers), and mulching it with something light and inorganic, like lava rocks. When they get older, they get more resistent, mostly because their roots are more spread out and less likely to all die at once.
The above followup was added by Rob Wagner on March 24, 2006 at 2:33 pm PST.
..wow how in the world have I missed out on these plants? They definately look like a must have plant. Can you recommend any sources for them?
The above followup was added by Andrew Fritze zone 8b Fox Island on March 24, 2006 at 2:40 pm PST.
The photo in Ian's website turned me on to these beauties. Ian: you've had seeds. Will you be offering plants this season?
Portland Nursery on Stark has 1 gal specimens near their little Eucs (sorry, Andrew. That doesn't help you). I picked up two this afternoon. They look like rooted cuttings. Should have grabbed another.
Considering the advice I've gotten, I'm tempted to put one in my dry bed. That way, I'm not likely to shower it with too much attention (or fertilizer). The other is going in a new bed that will get sun until the afternoon.
Bradley
The above followup was added by Bradley, PDX on March 24, 2006 at 5:21 pm PST.
I lost my Embothrium two years ago toward the end of the summer. It was planted in rich soil near a composter located close to the house. Another plant (still only about 5 years old) planted away from the house in a cold pocket , but well drained soil is fine. I guess this just confirms what has already been said.
The above followup was added by Vlad Pomajzl, Saltspring Island on March 24, 2006 at 9:23 pm PST.
For those living in BC and looking for Embothrium, Fraser's Thimble Farms Nursery on Saltspring Island has a whole bunch of one gallon plants for about $11.
The above followup was added by Vlad Pomajzl, Saltspring Island on March 25, 2006 at 12:06 am PST.
I have an Embothrium that I planted out of a 4" pot several years back. It is now about 15' tall, and it is growing on heavy clay soil that is not very well drained or well aerated by any stretch. I have never fertilized it (I pretty much never fertilize anything in the ground anymore), but I did mulch it with fresh grass clippings in the spring a couple times, which I am sure boosted its growth. I do not water it at all. Allowing the soil to dry out for a period of time in the summer, I think discourages root diseases in some cases. I have seen it growing well on a variety of soils, from sandy to loamy to acidic organic soils. I think the key to success is that soil temperatures are kept cool by mulching the plant, and that it is not watered very much once established. I wouldn't really recommend it for a dry bed, remember it is a 60' tall tree and will shade everything else out. As for whether I will have plants for sale... probably not until next year. And I was not able to get more fresh seeds last fall, unfortunately.
The above followup was added by Ian on March 25, 2006 at 6:46 pm PST.
Vlad, How tall are those one's that Richard is selling in 1 gallon pots? I should try another, the deer destroyed my first one I ever planted. Maybe first I should invest in a crossbow then buy an Embothrium. Ian I was at a friend's place here today and he had several Embothrium growing. He gave me a bunch of seeds he collected from one of his. Any special tricks to germinating them? I just sowed them straight into moistened Pro- Mix HP and put them in the greenhouse today. Joe
The above followup was added by Joe, SSI on March 25, 2006 at 7:46 pm PST.
Andrew, a number of places have them, just not very consistently.
Try sending email to Colvos Creek to see if they have any.
Sometimes Swansons in Seattle has them, and sometimes Sky Nursery out on Aurora a few miles north of the city limits (I think it might still be Shoreline) has them. Call ahead as it would be a long drive for you.
Look for relatively narrow leaves. The cultivar "Inca Gold" which I have seen sold here is not as hardy as some cultivars; although it will probably survive I suggest avoiding it to avoid problems with damaged buds after late freezes.
Mine seems to be completely evergreen but had no trouble surviving the February freeze.
If you can take the time, come up in June (bring the family), and have a picnic at the arboretum. Sit next to the BIG Embothrium, and you can watch the hummingbirds doing their thing. Last time we watched, there was a hummingbird soap opera going on. A female was sitting on a branch, and two males were displaying for her, trying to outdo each other. They were doing the "divebomb" thing. As you can imagine, Embothriums are a magnet for hummingbirds.
The above followup was added by Rob Wagner on March 25, 2006 at 9:23 pm PST.
Andrew, I forgot the possibility of mailorder.
It is worth noting that Forest Farm's cultivar is supposed to be a fairly hardy one. Probably semi-deciduous.
Heronswood used to not only have them, but seedlings of all sorts of different varieties collected in different habitats. It is a "polymorphic" species--it can be anything from a bush to a tall tree, fully evergreen or fully deciduous, varies substantially in hardiness, and can have nearly round to quite narrow leaves. However, Heronswood seems to have gone out of the Embothrium business.
The above followup was added by Rob Wagner on March 25, 2006 at 9:27 pm PST.
Joe, the plants sold at Thimble Farms nursery are about 12 inches tall. I had no problem starting my plants from seed. The one that I still have gets a periodic egg/water spray to deter deer. Vlad.
The above followup was added by Vlad Pomajzl, Saltspring on March 26, 2006 at 9:18 am PST.
Then hopefully those seeds I sowed will grow. Thanks, Joe
The above followup was added by Joe, SSI on March 26, 2006 at 3:57 pm PST.
Bradley I'll be in Portland on Monday. So I'll swing by the Portland nursery on Stark and take a look. Rob thanks for all the cultivation information on this genus. It doesn't sound like the kind of specimen tree that one would plant out in the lawn, as regular lawn fertilizer would likely kill it.
Also, it would be a great treat picnicking out at the arboretum. We will definitely have to do that.
The above followup was added by Andrew Fritze zone 8b Fox Island on March 26, 2006 at 6:04 pm PST.