What's Looking Good In October 2020

Well, I always thought it was a brazilian plant, possibly from altitude.
I was thinking you get enough chilling to ripen citrus so would have thought it was worth a go.
Its not something I would grow exclusively for the fruit, its a nice, different flowering tree.

 

Agree that the flowers are very pretty, but those temperatures @Victoria quoted would probably explain the lack of fruit here (and there!). Ah well, it's one of the few evergreens that seems thoroughly happy, so I'll just have to revel in the photos of your fruit, @pete

 

Purple passiflora and cobaea pringlei still flowering well. Very surprising!

 

Cobaea pringlei?
Is that the one that is fairly reliably perennial?

 

Oh well with climate change I might not be growing it here much longer.
Picked two very nearly ripe figs today, but they are on this years growth, never known that to happen before.

 

Is there any chance Pete to post your wonderful tree when it is in full bloom in spring?

 

I'll have a look for some decent pictures tomorrow, I think I only have close ups of the flowers to be honest.

 

Well I've trawled back through some old photos but cant find any showing the overall appearance of the trees when in flower.
There is probably a couple of reasons, main one being they are surrounded by other shrubbery so tend to blend in in a photo, and to be honest, the plant can be covered in flowers but from a distance that isn't always apparent.
But a close up of the flowers.

 

In the garden
In the greenhouse
Last leaves

After the rain
​

 

Thank you very much, Pete! The flowers are stunning! I have never seen such trees in real life. How big are the flowers? Are they fragrant? How old is your tree? How old it should be to start flowering?
Now I am tempted to buy one. Is it easy to grow it? Is it possible to grow it in a large container because it is the only solution for me? Is it hardy enough to grow in Manchester?

 

It's not too bad - though I think it needs a decently mild climate. I have taken some cuttings (which took very well) and got plants in glasshouse just in case. It seems to flower a lot later than c. scandens

 

Flowers are about 1.5in across in clusters of up to four or five, usually in July for me, no scent that I can detect.
Interesting fact, the petals of the flowers were once used in a similar way to sugar as they are sweet to the taste, and probably why, in recent years, sparrows and starlings seem to attack the flowers.
I grew my trees/bushes from seed, but I think plants are readily available these days and could possibly grow in a large container I guess where they would stay smaller.

If you bought a plant it could possibly flower in a year or so, may even be in flower when you buy.
Definitely hardy enough for Manchester, just find a sunny spot for it.

They are getting more and more popular in gardens around here, but mostly for the foliage and flowers, similar in a way to bottle brush.

I think the name has now changed to Acca.

 

Thank you Pete for your reply. Now I am even more tempted to get this beautiful tree. Do you have any seeds by any chance?

 

No, sorry, I've never tried growing from the seed in my fruit, not sure how viable it is, anyway buying a plant grown from cuttings is more likely to flower earlier.

Not suggesting you buy from here but as an example.
Pineapple Guava - Acca selloweana | YouGarden

 

Thank you Pete. I have already found this plant on YouGarden.