GardenBanter.co.uk - View Single Post - ...what determines where a plant can grow?

Sean Houtman[_2_] · 27-07-2009, 10:14 AM posted to sci.bio.botany

Lester Welch wrote in news:232ea5b1-137f-499b-
:

Sean,...Thanks for your answer. One out of three Rhus trilobata is
still showing signs of life - so maybe there is hope. All three were
about 10 inch saplings when I received them. Other NM plants
(because of my "roots" {pun intended}) I'm watching are a Pinus edulis
(pinion), a sapling which I planted ~ 10inches tall and is in its
second year and Curcurbita foetidissima (buffalo gourd, grown from
seeds) which is also in its second year. The gourd is in a big pot
but hasn't bloomed yet. Prickly pear cactus and yucca (variety of
species) are native in SC and are very common around my area.

I'm also interested - in retirement - in growing very rare native SC
plants - Echinacea laevigata (smooth purple cone flower) and Ribes
echinellum (spiny gooseberry).

Any thoughts about the chances of the gourd if it remains in the pot?
(20 inches diameter and 20 inches tall)

The buffalogourd may take several years to flower, they tend to grow
huge roots, and that little pot isn't going to handle what the plant is
going to try to grow. It might be ok though, but watch out for a tap-
root escaping from a drain hole. You do see a few buffalogourds growing
near water, so I expect that it will survive there. Remember that it is
dioecious, so with only one plant, you will never see gourds. You will
have either a male or a female plant.

Sean

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