unidentified tree and flower

hallo,

i have two unidentified plants of which the pink fluffy flower small tree is the first - it is gorgeous i adore it and want to buy one but no idea what it is. i think it grows in sunnier climes - have only seen it in bulgaria, rome and hungary.

the second is a purple flowered thing - again i have no clue what it is.

any ideas? thanks

karaman
the spirit never dies
+++++++++++++++

 

The tree looks like a pink mimosa - probably Albizia julibrissin or Persian Silk Tree

 

hallo lovage,

thanks for the albizia: i love this thing, must have one. the second plant i have now found out is a clary sage - a pernennial with seeds - my kind of plant: initial tlc and joy for ever after!
thanks again

karaman

 

I agree with the pink mimosa and I have the other one in the garden (had forgotten the name of it!) and it is as you said, Karaman, a bit of TLC in the beginning, and then joy for ever.

 

I'll go along with the albizia, but I must say I'm not sure about the other being" Clary", its not like what I know as Salvia sclarea.

I dont doubt that it might be some kind of Salvia, (we need PeterS on this one), but it appears to be a double flower, so its a cultivar of some kind, I guess.

 

Albizia aren't widely available in GC's so you may have trouble finding one, however they are easy to grow from seed. They do not flower in the UK as profusely as in warmer climates so the full flower effect is really seen here, still the foliage is very attractive and when a few years old can take low temps down to -10c.
Mine will cetainly be tested in this cold spell.

 

The winter cold is not the problem I dont think Strongy.
I had plants survive minus 12c last year in unprotected pots.

Summer heat I think is the key, a good summer baking from early on seems to be the thing that kicks them into flower mode.
Not that we often get that, but also I would say buying a named variety might be a good idea, as opposed to seed grown plants.

 

hallo to all from karaman,

thank you for replies - all appreciated and thoroughly considered.
i've bought a shed with a reasonable garden in a continental climate so albizia will do well - also plan to plant stuff that dont grow well in uk e.g. bluebell tree, medlar, judas tree and a gunnera next to a soak-away, etc. along with pears, plums, grapes, walnuts, almonds, all i have to do is live long enough to see the garden mature. renovations start next june, can't wait!

thanks again to everybody

karaman
the spirit never dies
+++++++++++++++