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Tradescant: Pillar or Trellis?
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Posted by
stross z8, San Antonio (
My Page) on
Tue, Mar 20, 12 at 0:21
| Hello, everyone! I've decided to plant a Tradescant behind a Jude the Obscure, assuming that it will grow to be a good bit taller than Jude here in the San Antonio heat. In order to keep it from sprawling, it seems to me that it will need some training. It will be planted in a large garden, not up against a wall or in a corner.
So, my question is, should it be planted to be trained on a free-standing trellis as a climber, or on a pillar/obelisk? I've only grown one climber before, against a wall, so this is kind of a new thing for me.
Any thoughts? |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Tradescant: Pillar or Trellis?
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| ISit a climber? Granted, our plant was a badly-de-eyed suckering mess, but the only parts taller than 3-ft were the Dr. Huey suckers. Jeri |
RE: Tradescant: Pillar or Trellis?
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- Posted by stross z8, San Antonio (My Page) on
Tue, Mar 20, 12 at 9:08
| Thanks for the response, Jeri. The DA website lists Tradescant as a 4'x4' shrub or 8' as a climber. Mine is an own root from Chamblees (they sent a very healthy plant, btw), and the person from Chamblees with whom I spoke on the phone said that Tradescant should do fine behind Jude, which I interpreted as indicating that it does indeed get tall.... So, there is the basis of my reasoning. If Tradescant will not do on a trellis or pillar, it's best that I find out on here before putting it in the ground! I could always find another spot for it somewhere...... |
RE: Tradescant: Pillar or Trellis?
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| Granted, I probably just had a reeeeely bad plant, but 8'? WOW. I wish EYE had had one like that! Jeri |
RE: Tradescant: Pillar or Trellis?
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| I used to grow it. Three foot was about the max for it for me. The blooms were killer, though -- loved that dark grape purple and kept it for a long while even though the plant was kind of weak. I don't recall what rootstock it was on. Kathy |
RE: Tradescant: Pillar or Trellis?
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- Posted by hoovb z9 Southern CA (My Page) on
Tue, Mar 20, 12 at 16:10
| I love mine. The branches are stiff, not climber material in my opinion. A big shrub. I got it in wretched condition at a big box store for a dollar, probably my best rose bargain ever. 
|
RE: Tradescant: Pillar or Trellis?
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| Hi, I questioned its ability to be a climber when this came up here before, here it is a small shrub. However, apparently in warmer climates it will do a climber. I would go for a trellis I think, don't imagine it will weave well enough for a pillar, the branches aren't especially flexible. |
RE: Tradescant: Pillar or Trellis?
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| OMG hoovb!!!! How long have you had it? Is it budded or own root? Your photo is - there aren't words nice enough! Thank you. |
RE: Tradescant: Pillar or Trellis?
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- Posted by stross z8, San Antonio (My Page) on
Tue, Mar 20, 12 at 22:39
| Thanks for all the helpful input, everyone! Based on your comments, I think I'm just going to go ahead and plant the Tradescant and then wait and see how it behaves. If it looks like it wants to be a climber, I will just put in a trellis or something to offer it some support. Hoovb... Thank You for that wonderful photo. Wow! That is exactly the color I was hoping to find for this particular spot in the garden. I can only hope that this Tradescant will turn out as lovely as yours has. That is really spectacular! Thanks again, y'all! :-) |
RE: Tradescant: Pillar or Trellis?
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| I don't think you should plant it behind Jude. In my zone 8 garden it is a smaller plant, 3 feet like KStrong said. My Jude is taller, bushier, and twice as wide. |
RE: Tradescant: Pillar or Trellis?
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- Posted by hoovb z9 Southern CA (My Page) on
Wed, Mar 21, 12 at 13:09
| Mine is about the same size as Jude, 6x6, something like that. It would be larger if I gave it more water. Nice fragrance, and a decent cut flower as well. I think it was grafted at one time, but has own-rooted itself. It is about 10 years old. |
RE: Tradescant: Pillar or Trellis?
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| stross: Mine is own root from the same source growing in a warmer climate: 9a FL. As I related in another post on a thread somewhere here, mine did not bloom true to color or form for the first two years. So if it makes unremarkable red flowers for a while you shouldn't think you've got the wrong plant. I didn't get dividends before year 3. hoovb: thank you for the info on your stunning specimen. I've never gotten any comparble value for a buck. Does yours repeat well or is it primarily a spring show? What about Jude? Your opinion/take? I've heard some raves. Thank you again. |
RE: Tradescant: Pillar or Trellis?
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- Posted by stross z8, San Antonio (My Page) on
Thu, Mar 22, 12 at 23:36
| Thanks, sandandsun. I did notice your post on that other thread after having run a search on "Tradescant". :-) Thanks for sharing your experience with this rose and offering that "heads up"! What is the current size of your Tradescant? |
RE: Tradescant: Pillar or Trellis?
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| hoovb: Thank you for all of the information. It's all very good news. Need that more often! stross: I measured it for you. Be aware these dimensions are basically from the end of last year because mine's been sleeping for months. It is about 3 1/2 ft deep x 6 ft wide with an average height of 3 ft. It is just waking up now with 2 inch growth spurts but no buds as yet.
It's fascinating to watch the different growth habits.
For examples in contrast: SDLM and KPV have bloomed all winter; Cecile B. whom I adore has slept too but is already fully leafed out and setting buds; Ebb Tide is just slightly ahead of Tradescant; and my Kordes Fairy Tales slept too but are ahead of Cecile. Others nameless due to redundancy in behavior.
You must actually be a gardener stross. Folks not true gardeners are not patient enough to wait for dividends. Best of luck and may the journey be exciting and rewarding! |
RE: Tradescant: Pillar or Trellis?
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- Posted by stross z8, San Antonio (My Page) on
Fri, Mar 23, 12 at 21:39
| Thanks for your kind response, sandandsun. That is very helpful information. It really is fascinating to see how each variety of rose develops, isn't it? The various colors of the new growth, which ones are the first to leaf out, the ones who will bloom in the heat, etc. As for your comment about being a true gardener, I don't know! lol I'm just a guy who recently moved to San Antonio and is starting a garden from scratch again, more or less, and trying to think things through in order to get things right! This is like the third thread I've begun about this one spot in the garden. lol But I do appreciate the comment, and hope to be a true gardener some day. After all the input, I'm thinking of digging up Jude, which is also a new own root and which I just put in the ground about two weeks ago, and planting Tradescant in his place and putting Jude in the back. Decisions, decisions! Thanks for your well wishes, and here's wishing you the same! |
RE: Tradescant: Pillar or Trellis?
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| I think the color combination will be really nice. |
RE: Tradescant: Pillar or Trellis?
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| Did you see the post linked below? |
Here is a link that might be useful: Seeing Purple (and maybe a little burgundy)
RE: Tradescant: Pillar or Trellis?
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| I have a Tradescant that I have pegged. I wanted it to be a tall shrub, but it put out octopus canes. So I just bent them and had great results. 
|
RE: Tradescant: Pillar or Trellis?
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- Posted by stross z8, San Antonio (My Page) on
Fri, Mar 30, 12 at 21:34
| Thanks for the link, sandandsun. So many beautiful roses! ... speaking of which, thanks for the photo, buford. That is one fine looking Tradescant, not to mention your whole garden! |
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