Not what you expected!Perhaps, you were thinking of this beautiful Bottle Brush Tree~~
C&L November 2009
C&L November 2009Aesculus parviflora, dressed in the Nashville fall "it" color. I fell for it when visiting the Missouri Botanical Gardens a long time ago...We were walking away from the Climatron when we passed through a planting of very tall shrubs with palmate green leaves (5 to 7 leaflets) and foot long brush like spikes of white tubular flowers. The flowers had showy red anthers that attract hummers. 
Missouri Plants website*
It was gorgeous and smelled delicious.... Finally, it's growing here!
Missouri Plants website*C&L's Aesculus parviflora is a baby plant! It's planted in the Garden of Benign Neglect on the edge of the dry stream~~In somewhat moist, but, well draining conditions. Bottle Brush Buckeye is not native to Tennessee~~It is found naturally growing in Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina DC, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. It's hardy to zone 4 and will grow in sun or shade. It is not a xeric plant. Here's what it looked like this morning~~All the pretty fall color has faded to a rich brown.
You can see hints of the golden color that it once had. It's a slow growing plant that's known to sucker and create colonies! Although, it's described as not invasive. A big bold planting is just what is needed in the back garden...Here's a photo of what we can hope to have some day!
Thanks to Mobot for the photos of the mature specimensThe Southern Bottle Tree on the other hand
Has no need for anything other than a level spot of lawn or garden.
The new 'garden tree' is sited for maximum viewing...(You might even be wondering where in the world the stock tank can be found? I promise to finish that tale in another post!) I've been hoping to find a bottle tree that had a tree form.I think this one fits the bill.
The flowering gaura has absolutely nothing to do with this post!It's just a pretty bloomer that's still going strong in the garden!
I am so very glad you stopped by!
gail
photos courtesy of MOBOT and J.S. Peterson @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
http://www.missouriplants.com/Whiteopp/Aesculus_parviflora_page.html
Oh I love it, Gail! That should read them, for both the live and non living bottle trees are fabulous! The branching of the metal is wonderful, I can see instantly why you fell in love with it. Love the siting too. The rain has stopped and the weather man keeps changing the forecast for this weekend, bring boots and raincoat just in case. :-)
ReplyDeleteFrances
I have a buckeye bush too. After seeing this photo of a mature one I know I have it in the wrong place. UGH.. Must move it. Must move it. Don't forget to move it...
ReplyDeleteYour bottle tree is one of the better ones I have seen. It is definitely a tree shape. Good find.
Gail girl .. that was such an explosive YELLOW from the living tree and the picture of what it looks like as a mature specimen is amazing .. wish I had the room for it too ! BUT .. the bottle tree of such gorgeously coloured glass .. well .. that is fantastic and having the sun reflect light on it .. well, it would be perfect of course ! : )
ReplyDeleteJoy
Frances, It fit the bill beautifully...and the bottles came with it! I think the Aesculus would be lovely in your garden~~the leaf form and flower are stellar! But, you would have to water it.
ReplyDeleteLisa, They are very slow growing, but aren't they great looking!
Joy, It's a perfect looking plant for your garden~~but, its size when full grow is 10 feet or more! The Bottle Tree is fun~~
gail
Yeah!!!! It is a wonderful tree-both! I have two of the native bottle bush trees (babies like yours) and three of the glass type ones. Gotta love them all. Can I post a link on my sidebar under the bottle trees?
ReplyDeleteBoth species of bottle brush tree are lovely, and my guara is still blooming, too, even though we've had several hard frosts. (Well, I'll go check on it later, anyway!)
ReplyDeleteTina, Yes please do add it to the sidebar. Q...Since you added the aesculus to the garden, how much have they grown?
ReplyDeleteMonica, I do love that gaura!
gail
I added on last summer during the drought and it has not grown much but I tell you I NEVER watered it even though it was newly planted. This year it is about the size of yours, maybe a bit smaller. It was a gift from a friend who has a wildflower garden here in Clarksville. The second one I added this spring from the master gardener plant sale. Both of them have shown growth with all the good rains. I guess maybe about a 4-5 inches for both? Not too much but they'll pick up the longer they have been planted. Where I walk there are tons of these and they are so lovely. Thanks for asking and I'll add in your link.
ReplyDeleteThat is one terrific bottle tree. I am still collecting blue bottles for one.
ReplyDeleteThe Gaura is lovely!
Rosey
The bottle brush tree is going to look beautiful in your GOBN! But the other bottle tree is quite an eye-catcher now--blue is my favorite color! Now, just where is that stock tank going to go?
ReplyDeleteI've always admired the bottlebrush buckeye but it needs more moisture than I can guarantee. The bottle tree on the other hand isn't fussy about rain and is always in bloom;)
ReplyDeleteMarnie
I love your new bottle tree, Gail, and especially where you placed it against those yellowing shrubs. Lovely!
ReplyDeleteThat Bottle Brush Tree looks great for fall color! I need to take a look at our gaura to see if its still going!
ReplyDeleteGail, I just love your new bottle tree - it's fabulous!
ReplyDeleteSomeday I'll get around to making a bottle tree...
ReplyDeleteI love bottlebrush buckeyes, and your own "native" bottle tree is fantastic. That cobalt blue sets off all the autumn golds perfectly!
ReplyDeleteI didn't realize that Bottlebrush Buckeye was fragrant and had fall color too! What a beautiful native!
ReplyDeleteLove the Bottle brush tree. Sure wish I had the room for one.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful bottle tree. That's exactly what I was looking for.
I love both your bottle trees! The mature one (the MOBOT one) looks fantastic. I didn't realize they had whitish blooms. I must be thinking of some other tree with a similar name. My gaura is still eeking out blooms as well. It probably needs a rest by now!
ReplyDeleteLove your bottle tree, Gail! I'm a huge fan of blue glass! Actually I'm a huge fan of anything blue! I love the Aesculus parviflora and of course your guara, I love those long bloomers. Thanks for stopping by to say hi! :)
ReplyDeleteDear Gail....the Buckeye bush is beautiful....I love the blooms on it and can imagine a beautiful hummer feeding from it.
ReplyDeleteI love your bottle tree, what a fun feature.......
I like them both, and they'd look good next to each other. Wish I had room for the Buckeye. Anything that attracts hummers & has good fall color is appreciated.
ReplyDeleteI think the bottle trees are so whimsical. Great fun. That Buckeye is a nice one.
ReplyDeleteI have a few Gaura still blooming. Great little plant.
Both of the bottle trees are great! It's too bad the Buckeye has suckers, or else it would be a good candidate for my shrub choice.
ReplyDeleteI like your Southern bottle tree. I have the blue bottles - I just need a suitable tree but we are sadly lacking in craft skills, especially with metal. Hopefully I will find one before too long.
ReplyDeleteHa! Love the bottle tree. :D And I'm a tad jealous that your lovely Gaura is still blooming. She finished up her showing in my garden a good 2 months ago... :(
ReplyDeleteOhhh I love that! What a fun thing for your garden, Kim
ReplyDeleteGail,
ReplyDeleteYour bottlebrush buckeye will be great (and a lot bigger).
Ours has spread and suckered to be quite the robust specimen. We've even had to edit it a bit (not our usual practice). Happily, it was a lovely clear yellow this year, so was quite spectacular.
It's remarkable how a fairly restricted native can be happy in a wide range of circumstances.
Rest those thumbs!
Lisa
Rose, You can always keep them cut back or share with friends! gail
ReplyDeleteGail, you're all thumbs! ;-) I adore those spirally blooms. They seem outrageous for some reason or other, sort of wild yet luscious. Of course, the "real bottle" tree caught my eye. That's actually way cool!
ReplyDeleteI noticed your Gaura and I wonder if you have cut the stems down yet. If not, take the stems and hang them upside down for drying. They turn more crimson than just about anything in Nature, I swear, and they make absolutely killer dried flower arrangements. They can stand up straight and you won't believe the color, as I said. Nice to see you again. I am hoping to get out more, blogging-wise.
Hi Gail! What a whimsical item - your Bottle Tree! It really is attractive. :-) I'll look forward to reading more about your new Bottle Brush Tree. The photo of the mature specimen impressive... like a grown-up Butterfly Bush! ;-)
ReplyDeleteLOL, you got me with that first pic. ;) What a lovely native shrub, it should be quite happy in the C&L garden.
ReplyDeleteI love the bottle tree! I wish I had a tree that I could do that... I have gaura, too. Very pretty!
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ReplyDeleteLove the color blue in the garden and your Southern Bottle Tree is delightful, Gail ... a keeper!
ReplyDeleteHi Gail~
ReplyDeleteYour bottle tree is fabulous! I love the lines and design you created for the tree. I wonder what you have planted around the base?
Have a beautiful day!
I love your new bottle tree Gail - it's one of the coolest I've seen.
ReplyDeleteGreat post you got here. I'd like to read something more about that matter.
ReplyDeleteBy the way look at the design I've made myself Young escorts
last few days our class held a similar discussion on this topic and you illustrate something we have not covered yet, appreciate that.
ReplyDelete- Kris