Brugmansia (Non-poisonous) Substitute?
Jeanne Baggins
worried about my dog who has a habit of sleeping under trees. Is there
a similar looking non-poisonous plant/ornamental tree that can survive
in zone 8? Any information would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Jeanne,
Seattle, WA
Bill Spohn
First, a Brug may survive zone 8, but unless you either bring it inside or
under cover in winter, it will be severely cut back. They really work best when
put in the basement and watered but little until Spring.
Second, they aren't trees, and I can't imagine the dog sleeping under it, or
suffering even if he did.
Third, no, there isn't any other equivalent.
What makes you worry about the dog?
Beecrofter
I have 3 German Shedder Dogs and they go into the sunroom and eat the
leaves of the tropical hibiscus and the calliandra and never touch the
datura growing on either side.
YMMV
Pam - gardengal
"Bill Spohn" <wsp...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20040326084757...@mb-m23.aol.com...
In the PNW, they are definitely considered container plants for any long
term survival prospects and may reach 6-8 feet but certainly not tree-like
proportions. I've grown any number of them (can't be bothered to overwinter
them anymore) and I also live and garden with an assortment of dogs and
other pets, none of which has ever shown the slightest interest in this
plant. Pets are often much more intellegent about knoshing on toxic plants
than we give them credit for - kids are another matter altogether.
A possible alternative (not exactly the same flowering effect, however) is
Clerodendrum trichotomum, Harlequin glorybower. Will eventually reach a
small tree-like form (10-12') and produces fragrant white flowers with red
calyces in late summer followed by interesting metallic blue drupes. Foliage
smells like peanut butter when crushed or rubbed. Slow to establish and late
to leaf out, but an interesting and attractive, hardy, small, tree-like
shrub.
pam - gardengal
Brian
"Jeanne Baggins" <jp_balla...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:17bf5c61.04032...@posting.google.com...
Charles
>>I just love Brugmansias, but I can't buy one because I'd be too
>>worried about my dog who has a habit of sleeping under trees. Is there
>>a similar looking non-poisonous plant/ornamental tree that can survive
>>in zone 8? Any information would be greatly appreciated.
>
>First, a Brug may survive zone 8, but unless you either bring it inside or
>under cover in winter, it will be severely cut back. They really work best when
>put in the basement and watered but little until Spring.
>
>Second, they aren't trees, and I can't imagine the dog sleeping under it, or
>suffering even if he did.
>
I am curious why you say they are not trees. There may be some
definition of a tree that I am not aware of, but my brug is big
enough, it's lifting the roof of my car port and grows higher that the
roof.
>Third, no, there isn't any other equivalent.
>
>What makes you worry about the dog?
--
- Charles
-
-does not play well with others
Brian
none that has anything other than an exceptionally unpleasant taste. As a
student we had to taste minute samples of many. Ricinin excepted A few
years ago a local child died eating two or three of these Castor Oil
seeds --but these don't grow in our climate.
Laburnum I would keep away from children.
Cattle poison easily with Yew clippings and accordingly we planted these
in graveyards. Every village had to grow them by order. Horses are
vulnerable to Ragwort and we can be prosecuted for permitting its growth.
I would not worry about your dog. Chocolate is the worst potential
poison.
Best Wishes.
"Jeanne Baggins" <jp_balla...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:17bf5c61.04032...@posting.google.com...
Pam - gardengal
"Charles" <ckr...@SPAMTRAPwest.net> wrote in message
news:b20960hlrm23o5io6...@4ax.com...
> On 26 Mar 2004 13:47:57 GMT, wsp...@aol.com (Bill Spohn) wrote:
>
> >>I just love Brugmansias, but I can't buy one because I'd be too
> >>worried about my dog who has a habit of sleeping under trees. Is there
> >>a similar looking non-poisonous plant/ornamental tree that can survive
> >>in zone 8? Any information would be greatly appreciated.
> >
> >First, a Brug may survive zone 8, but unless you either bring it inside
or
> >under cover in winter, it will be severely cut back. They really work
best when
> >put in the basement and watered but little until Spring.
> >
> >Second, they aren't trees, and I can't imagine the dog sleeping under it,
or
> >suffering even if he did.
> >
> I am curious why you say they are not trees. There may be some
> definition of a tree that I am not aware of, but my brug is big
> enough, it's lifting the roof of my car port and grows higher that the
> roof.
Brian answered this point very adequately. In zone 8 Seattle, these are not
winter hardy and will never grow to a height of more than about 6-8 feet in
a season. They never develop a woody structure ( a requirement of anything
accurately called a "tree") and will die back to the ground (or worse) if
not given winter protection. In more tropical, frost-free climates, they
behave differently and grow to much larger proportions and may assume a
small, tree-like stature.
pam - gardengal
David Hill
I think you'll find they are Large shrubs not small trees.
Large shrubs can be up to 30ft or more, look at mature Rhododendrons, they
are large shrubs, and I have seen these to over 50 ft.
--
David Hill
Abacus nurseries
www.abacus-nurseries.co.uk
Brian
require a tree to have a clear trunk or bole before branching~~otherwise
its a shrub. So we could confuse both ourselves and the plant!!
Best Wishes
"David Hill" <da...@abacusnurseries.freeserve.co.uk> wrote in message
news:c43bjp$qti$1...@newsg1.svr.pol.co.uk...
Neil Jones
> Animals seem to have the ability to avoid poisonous plants. I can think of
> none that has anything other than an exceptionally unpleasant taste. As a
> student we had to taste minute samples of many. Ricinin excepted A few
> years ago a local child died eating two or three of these Castor Oil
> seeds --but these don't grow in our climate.
> Laburnum I would keep away from children.
> Cattle poison easily with Yew clippings and accordingly we planted these
> in graveyards. Every village had to grow them by order. Horses are
> vulnerable to Ragwort and we can be prosecuted for permitting its growth.
> I would not worry about your dog. Chocolate is the worst potential
> poison.
You have just stated a very common myth. The Weeds Act doesn't make
the growing of ragwort illegal it provides for a mechanism for
ordering control *where it is a problem* and only on *agricultural
land*. There have been some pretty outragious claims made for the
plant's toxicity. The toxic dose for horses is quite high more perhaps
than 20% of the body weight in some cases.
For more information i'd suggest http://www.ragwortfacts.com/
Neil Jones
Ne...@nwjones.demon.co.uk http://www.butterflyguy.com/
David Hill
habitat. I have been collecting them for more than a decade. By small
tree, I mean anything less than 25-30 feet tall. That, is considered by the
industry, a small tree. ....."
Just going by my books (R.H.S. publications) which list them as evergreen
and semi evergreen small trees or shrubs.
David Hill
Spain , Malta and Italy.
I have never seen one that could be described as a tree, all having multiple
stems and frequent branching. None showed ant sign if a main (Central) stem.
All in my book would be described as Shrubs.
As they have to be pot grown in UK I can only go by what I have seen,
though as I later said my books do also say small trees, and I will
naturally bow to your superior knowledge of them as you are clearly an
Expert on the subject.
And do remember I did say ""I think you'll find they are Large shrubs not
small trees." I think...... not........ they are.
Lastly you say "Because something is in a book, does not mean the plant
can read it", This seems to imply that some plants may, or just could be you
also not being specific enough about the words you use....
Sod isn't it when there is some picky person waiting to pick up the
slightest slip..............
quest
Gottschalk. It's written in German, but you can get the English supplement
as well. You should be able to find it in a google search. That's just if
you want to say 'the only two books', since I don't think she added to
anything Preissel said, unless possibly a bit of info on some newer hybrids.
"escapee" <get...@thebestplace2be.org> wrote in message
news:l4sd60t88pua6fug4...@4ax.com...
> On Sat, 27 Mar 2004 23:43:27 -0000, "David Hill"
> <da...@abacusnurseries.freeserve.co.uk> opined:
>
> >Just going by my books (R.H.S. publications) which list them as evergreen
> >and semi evergreen small trees or shrubs.
>
> Did you not say the following:
>
> "I think you'll find they are Large shrubs not small trees.
> Large shrubs can be up to 30ft or more, look at mature Rhododendrons, they
> are large shrubs, and I have seen these to over 50 ft."
>
>
> Now you are saying they ARE small trees or shrubs. Before you said they
are
> large shrubs, not small trees.
>
> Because something is in a book, does not mean the plant can read it.
Brugmansia
> are self cleaning, self pruning at the base and form very woody trunks.
Mine
> and the ones in the book I have (the only book about Brugmansia and Datura
in
> the world) say they are small trees.