It’s the last Monday of 2020, and the final vase of the year. In celebration of the end of this year, I decided to use some of my favorites. The pink flowers are Tropical Hydrangea (Dombeya wallachii) – I love French and Oakleaf Hydrangeas, but live too far south to grow either. So, I was more than pleased to find this giant “Hydrangea”; – 10 or 12 feet tall and wide. Dombeyas are not related to Hydrangeas; they are actually members of the Mallow family – I live at the northern end of their hardiness zone. The honey scented flowers are just opening and there were a few angry bees after I cut these.
A closer view:
The greenery is cut from a Passionfruit vine. I am not sure which Passionfruit (there are a surprising number of varieties), although it seems to be Possum Purple, the raccoons get almost every one of them – it should be called raccoon purple. The floaty grass is the finale of the Muhly Grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris) for the year, another favorite of mine. The vase, an antique, picked up years ago somewhere north of here.
Thank you to Cathy for 52 weeks of hosting IAVOM! May 2021 usher in health and happiness for everyone – and A Vase every Monday. To see more vases, visit Cathy at http://www.ramblinginthegarden.wordpress.com.
The Shrub Queen 
Your giant hydrangea must smell wonderful, as is the effect of the muhly grass – thanks for sharing and best wishes for 2021
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Thank you, Cathy..it is a subtle fragrance and you have to join the angry bees to get a good whiff.
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😁
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The Dombeyas look so pretty. I am guessing it is way too cold here. Happy New Year to you. It has to be a better one.
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There’s a Dombeya that is hardy to 25.. thanks. I agree bring on 2021
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I’ll check it out.
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https://www.anniesannuals.com/plants/view/?id=4170 here is a link
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Thanks! We rarely get down to 20 degrees.
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people that live north of me grow these, if established, a freeze will sometimes kill them back to the ground but they come back.
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Just explored website. Really good.
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Yes…can drop a few bucks there!!
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Your pink Tropical Hydrangea is really lovely! Wishing you and your hubby good health and all the best for 2021!
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Thank you, Cathy…Frohes neues Jahr!!
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I love Dombeya flowers and have been tempted to order a plant from my favorite mail order nursery but I had the impression it requires a lot of water. I just looked it up on the nursery’s site and discovered that it’s a) available, b) suitable to a zone 10b/11a garden and c) at least somewhat drought tolerant. I’ve no idea where I’d put it though but I’m deliberating. My husband would say you’re a bad influence! Happy new year, Amelia 😉
P.S. The nursery site I consulted also claims that the Dombeya’s bark can be chewed as an aphrodisiac!
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LOL, you are also a bad influence. I have a friend in San Diego that has these. There is a small one called Seminole Pink that is very popular here. I wrote an article about these It is used as an aprodisiac in Africa – haven’t tried it!
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Such a pretty flower and with all those buds, it must flower for weeks. A fine hydrangea alternative.
Wishing you and yours a healthy and happy new year!
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Thanks, Eliza ..actually it is a bit ephemeral, we’ll see how long it lasts. Happy New Year!!
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Thank you!
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Heck; I would grow ‘Possum Purple’ just because of the funny name! Unfortunately, passion fruit is not very productive here. They are grown primarily for their interesting flowers. My colleague down south had tried for years to kill a vine that would not die at his parents’ home. The roots are into and under the foundation of the fireplace. It is likely a remnant from when they were grown as an agricultural commodity, prior to the 1930s (!).
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LOL I like the name too and the fruit is purple..I planted it as a host for Gulf Fritillary and Zebra Longwing Butterflies.
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If I had room in my yard, I would plant a Dombeyas but alas they do grow too big for my space. A neighbor has one that I get to enjoy when I go out on walks. Happy New Year Amelia.
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Alas, there is a dwarf! Seminole Pink, darker pink, lots in Vero! Happy New Year to you.
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Thanks for the suggestion. 😘
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