"David Hill" wrote ...

Despite some frosts and 2 strong gales (Winds gusting to over 55mph in one
and over 70mph in the other ) the Imperialis are around 14ft tall with
trunks like small trees
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/f...psb8d25b20.jpg

The flowers are starting to open despite everything
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/f...psb2d1320e.jpg

The D, Tennicaulis is looking more healthy chiefly because the foliage is a
bit shorter and is protected by the surrounding stems.
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/f...ps2e2f9b7d.jpg

But if you look at the flower closely you will see this
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/f...ps18ca0418.jpg


I found once the frost got to them (D. imperialis) they just collapsed and I
was left with the tree trunk like stems and little else except a black
sludge. Every year they got to upstairs window height with flower buds
growing bigger by the day and bang, gone. Very frustrating but a beautiful
architectural plant and a big talking point with those that had never seen
one before; I was constantly being asked by passers by what it was and was
never sure they believed me.
I lost ours in a bad winter, should have taken a few cuttings as insurance
but I had given one to a friend and thought that would be enough, it wasn't
as he lost his the same winter.

--
Regards. Bob Hobden.
Posted to this Newsgroup from the W of London, UK