Bouvardia

(Bouvar'dia)

DESCRIPTION: These are small shrubs from South America that are grown in a greenhouse. Their thin stems are erect and are clothed with small, green leaves. In the fall and winter, the ends of the stems are covered with clusters of red, white or pink, single or double flowers. They are shaped like slender tubes, opening out at the top into four petals in cross formation.

POTTING: They need a minimum winter temperature of 50 degrees. They can be potted in 5- or 6-inch pots. The best compost for them consists of two-thirds loam, one-third peat and leaf mold and an addition of sand. When the flowers have faded, the soil should be kept moderately dry to allow the plants to rest until February. They can then be started into growth for the production of cuttings by shaking off the old soil and potting them in pots filled with sandy soil that are just large enough to hold their roots. Moisten the soil and sprits the foliage.

PROPAGATION: Young plants are raised annually by cuttings. Old plants are pruned in February and sprayed to encourage them to form new shoots. When these are about 2 inches long, they are detached with a piece of the branch still attached, and inserted in pots of sandy soil in a propagating case in the greenhouse. When roots have formed, they are potted separately in 3-inch pots filled with the compost described in potting. As soon as they've formed a sufficient amount of roots, the tips of the shoots are pinched and the resulting side branches are treated similarly to ensure well-branched plants. They are then planted in larger pots and when established, are gradually hardened off and plunged to their rims outdoors for the rest of the summer. They may also be planted in a bed of rich soil in a sunny spot and be lifted and brought to the greenhouse in the fall. In either case, pinch the shoots once in a while until the end of August. In September, they are brought to the greenhouse where they'll flower abundantly for several weeks. The old plants, after having been cut back and started into growth, may be planted in bigger pots to form large plants. The shoots should be pinched in the summer so they will bloom in the winter. Pieces of root taken from the older plants may be used as cuttings. They should be cut into 1-inch pieces and inserted in sandy soil in a propagating case in the greenhouse in March.

VARIETIES: These are natural wild species - B. longiflora and B. jasminiflora (both have white, fragrant flowers); B. ternifolia (scarlet); B. ternifolia Giant Pink; B. ternifolia White Joy (the latter are improved varieties).

Some of the best varieties are - President Garfield (double pink); President Cleveland (single red); Dazzler (single scarlet); Alfred Neuner (double white); Princess of Wales (single pink); Humboldtii (white, very fragrant); Humboldtii Albatross (large, white flowers); Giant Pink (salmon-rose); Christmas Red (scarlet).

Back to our botanical home page.