Posted by Gus on 8/7/2007, 2:12 pm, in reply to "Re: Largest eucalyptus flowers in Houston #2" The way to "explore the tree" for fruits and capsules starts at each branch from the newest growth (branch tops). The very small and recently formed flower buds appear near there. They can become flowers immediately or bloom when the branch is already longer (so they can be "mid branch flowers"). The closer you go to the trunk, the older the branch, so more chances of finding there mature capsules. I do not see any definitive reason to discard C. ptychocarpa as the ID, but you are right when you say that 5 years of growth, if winters were favourable, don't mean it will survive a harsh winter. I hope they do!
81.37.118.198
There is again variation for flowering age due to many factors (species, climate and growing conditions are some of the important ones). But if they are 5 years old, it is quite possible they have not been flowering for more than 1 or 2 years. This can mean (again variation) that the first seed from the oldest trees in that planting is not yet ripe, or is near it for the first time. 
What's sure is that the way to get to know that is planting them! So the current planter is giving some nice hints with those trees to future planters. Growers/planters are the key persons. Without them, no experts. Mostly because you learn while seeing the eucs growing
Message Thread:
« Back to thread