unknown purple flowers

Discussion in 'Plants: Identification' started by mristre, Jun 12, 2004.

  1. mristre

    mristre Member

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    Mandeville, Louisiana, USA
    This was growing in the flower bed when I purchased the house and my wife and I have not been able to identify the plant. It grows very quickly and we cut it back often. Does anyone know what this is? Thanks.
     

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  2. CcDry

    CcDry Active Member

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    evergreen?

    does it need support?

    wet or dry fruit/seed? muliple seeds per fruit? capsule?

    i was hoping some of the other forum users would recognize your plant from the photo, because with those showy flowers, it looks like a 'desirable' cultivar.
     
  3. mristre

    mristre Member

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    Yes, it is evergreen.

    My wife says it frequently needs support, but she tends to cut it back as the stems tend to flop over.

    Neither of us can answer you question regarding seeds. If you can give us a hint we'll go look at the plant.
     
  4. hungry hippo

    hungry hippo Active Member 10 Years

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    It certainly is a beautiful plant. To me it looks like it has a lot of very vinca-like attributes, especially the shape and form of the flowers and flower buds. I have never seen one with that growth habit or with leaves that delicate though.
     
  5. Douglas Justice

    Douglas Justice Well-Known Member UBC Botanical Garden Forums Administrator Forums Moderator VCBF Cherry Scout Maple Society 10 Years

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    The plant is probablyDuranta erecta 'Sapphire Showers'. See this page from the University of Georgia Trial Garden.

    A member of the vervain family (Verbenaceae), the species is native from Florida to Brazil. It is known as the forget-me-not tree because its flowers are reminiscent of forget-me-nots (Myosotis spp.). The flowers are followed by small, poisonous (!) orange fruits, which give the plant its other common names, golden dewdrops and pidgeon berry. The species is now naturalized in some of the southern United States and is considered an invasive on many tropical islands including Hawaii. See this link to the USDA Natural resources Conservation service.

    You don't mention fruit forming on your plant--is this because you cut off the old flower stalks, or does it just not produce them? This is an important issue, considering its invasive potential. Nice picture!
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jun 14, 2004
  6. CcDry

    CcDry Active Member

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