David Wright wrote:
"OmManiPadmeOmelet" wrote in message
...

In article et,
"David Wright" wrote:


Another, taller, plant that also would fit is cenizo. Here's a link for
you:
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/o...cophyllumfrute
s.htm

David

Oh wow!
How long does it keep those blooms????


Not very long, I'm sorry to say. They bloom best a few days after a
thunderstorm, but the blooms last only a week or so, if that. The story I
first learned was that they make flowers after the plants are stimulated by
lightning-fixed nitrogen. I've since read that this is a myth, but haven't
seen evidence either way. I do know that they bloom after a good rain, and
watering-by-hose doesn't seem to work as well. Maybe we have someone here
with enough knowledge of the appropriate plant physiology who can cite some
references.


I am SO into xeriscaping to save money on water!


I'm with you on that, Om, but I have to confess to growing water-thirsty
vegetables on about 10-15 percent of my yard. The rest is given over to
natives and adjusted plants that can handle the heat and drought.

Back OT, another alternative to oleander to consider is Turk's Cap. Works in
sun or partial shade, and is great for butterflies and hummingbirds. We have
three, so far, and they are an important part of our B&H friendly xeriscape.

David in San Antonio



Turk's Cap is pretty cool. My one plant has reseeded over the last 10-12
years and the mass of growth is about 6ft in diameter. I give it no
direct care for the most part, although it gets some watering from
sprinkling the nearby grass.

One year the bumblebees were so thick on the flowers it was a little
scary to walk by it.