"Dave Poole" wrote in message
...
I bought Isoplexus canariensis from HH nearly 10 years ago and planted
it in an east facing border where it has flowered from March through
to December ever since. At first it was exposed to open skies all
year round and very occasionally, the youngest shoots were very
slightly burned on cold clear winter nights. Damage was superficial
and did not impede continued growth of those shoots. A later-planted
seedling of Cornus capitata grew up to provide an evergreen canopy
after a few years and there has been no subsequent 'radiation burn' to
the Isoplexus.

During an average winter, there are about 2 or 3 times when air
temperatures drop to around -2C. for a couple of hours around
daybreak, but we do not get night-long freezes. In 2006 -4C was
recorded on December 28th which was the lowest it has fallen during
the 18 years I've lived here. For four nights in succession during
the following February, we saw -1C and -2C. but again these lows only
lasted a couple of hours at most. No damage was incurred to the
Isoplexus nor was flowering delayed. Since then, we've had no sub-zero
temperatures and the plant has been either in bud or flower
throughout.

Unfortunately despite regular pruning to maintain shape, the Isoplexus
has become very 'straggly' over the past couple of years with shoots
dying back for no apparent reason at almost any time of the year. It
is known to be a relatively short-lived shrub and I intend to take it
out and replace with the larger leaved Isoplexus sceptrum when it
stops flowering. If it stops flowering.

This non-stop flowering is very heartening! I think I'm going to really
enjoy growing this. Once my neighbours and friends see it, they'll all want
one, so I'm going to be very busy propagating.

Good idea to plant a shrub to shelter it. Up here in London it's probably
still a bit risky (we do have sub-zero temps.), but I can try it when I've
got a spare plant. Thank you.

Spider