Ever heard of an African Dracken tree?

Gardener972 · 04-21-2009, 05:50 PM

I'm STUNNED!!! Driving home today (in Dallas) I saw a breathtaking light purple blooming tree with huge flowers resembling foxglove or snapdragons. I found the house and blindly knocked on their door and was told her elderly father was an arborist and got the tree as a young plant three years ago and it is now the size of a full grown tree!! They said it was an African Dracken tree but I can't find anything on the internet about it. They said in the springtime it puts out purple snow pea looking pods but the seed pods I saw were round. Any idea what this is?

BIGDAWG69 · 04-21-2009, 06:26 PM

It sounds like Paulownia tree - I have one in my front yard and it has the purple flowers on it now. They look similar to foxglove.

Lagniappe · 04-21-2009, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BIGDAWG69

It sounds like Paulownia tree - I have one in my front yard and it has the purple flowers on it now. They look similar to foxglove.

That's the first thing I thought of. Mine went from tiny littl seedlings to monsters in three years. The roots are horrible, sprawling all over the ground.

Ueberwinden · 04-21-2009, 08:05 PM

Is it possible to get a picture of the tree?

Michael

saltydad · 04-21-2009, 11:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lagniappe

That's the first thing I thought of. Mine went from tiny littl seedlings to monsters in three years. The roots are horrible, sprawling all over the ground.

Some consider them "trash" trees, but I find them pretty (on someone else's lawn).

lorax · 04-22-2009, 12:32 AM

It could also be a Rosewood (aka Jacaranda) - fast growers, big purple snapdragon-style flowers, snow-pea type seed pods to follow.

Were the flowers pale, delicate lilac purple, or deep, butch, artificial-grapey PURPLE?

IE: did they look like Paulownia or Jacaranda

saltydad · 04-22-2009, 12:43 AM

Damn, I wish I could grow jacaranda here! Sigh.

lorax · 04-22-2009, 08:20 AM

Who says you can't, Howard? They make lovely bonsai.

LilRaverBoi · 04-22-2009, 11:49 AM

I just looked it up on Wikipedia and here's what I found. Hope that helps ya! Looks like a pretty sweet tree! Do the blooms have a fragrance?

saltydad · 04-22-2009, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lorax

Who says you can't, Howard? They make lovely bonsai.

Never even thought of that; thanks Lorax!

Tog Tan · 04-22-2009, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lorax

Who says you can't, Howard? They make lovely bonsai.

Howard, here's something I learnt from a bonsai master long ago; if it can harden, bonsai it (plants only...

)

island cassie · 04-22-2009, 03:42 PM

I don't know paulownia but love jacaranda. In South Africa, the city of Pretoria is set down in a bowl, and all the streets are lined with jacaranda - a breathtaking sight when in flower as all the streets are littered with pale blue/mauve flowers. I have seen the occasional tree here but they are uncommon.

saltydad · 04-22-2009, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tog Tan

Howard, here's something I learnt from a bonsai master long ago; if it can harden, bonsai it (plants only...

)

Gee Tog, I'm glad you clarified that; I had the wire and snips ready.

lorax · 04-22-2009, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by island cassie

I don't know paulownia but love jacaranda. In South Africa, the city of Pretoria is set down in a bowl, and all the streets are lined with jacaranda - a breathtaking sight when in flower as all the streets are littered with pale blue/mauve flowers. I have seen the occasional tree here but they are uncommon.

Uncommon? What a shame. In Quito we have entire boulevards lined with stately Jacaranda trees, and it's quite the sight when they're blooming. Ours are that forceful artificial grape purple. And the smell!

island cassie · 04-22-2009, 06:36 PM

OK - in Pretoria in the 60's they were the old pale mauve varieties, but beautiful beyond telling!

Bananaman88 · 04-22-2009, 08:33 PM

I would guess Paulownia as well. I don't think Jacaranda would be hardy in Dallas. Paulownias are capable of temendous amounts of growth in one season, but like most fast-growing trees are very prone to breaking up in wind and ice storms.

LilRaverBoi · 04-22-2009, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lorax

And the smell!

So the DO have a fragrance? I was wondering. I'm not sure when those bloom, but I definitely LOVE spring in the midwest cause there are so many amazing blooming trees!

lorax · 04-23-2009, 01:13 AM

The ones down here do; they're kind of spicy. The essence called "Brazilian Rosewood" is extracted from Jacaranda blossoms.

Bananaman88 · 04-23-2009, 06:07 AM

Paulownias are fragrant, too from what I remember. Paulownias have very large, fuzzy leaves. Some people call them elephant ear trees. I can't remember what the leaves of Jacaranda look like but maybe this will help you figure out which tree you saw.

lorax · 04-23-2009, 08:32 AM

Jacaranda has mimosa-type leaves, very fine and feathery.

04-21-2009, 05:50 PM	#1 (permalink)
Gardener972 Location: north Dallas, TX Zone: 7b/8a Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 180 BananaBucks : 157,413 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 35 Times Was Thanked 84 Times in 40 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 10 Times	Ever heard of an African Dracken tree? I'm STUNNED!!! Driving home today (in Dallas) I saw a breathtaking light purple blooming tree with huge flowers resembling foxglove or snapdragons. I found the house and blindly knocked on their door and was told her elderly father was an arborist and got the tree as a young plant three years ago and it is now the size of a full grown tree!! They said it was an African Dracken tree but I can't find anything on the internet about it. They said in the springtime it puts out purple snow pea looking pods but the seed pods I saw were round. Any idea what this is?

04-21-2009, 06:26 PM	#2 (permalink)
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04-22-2009, 12:32 AM	#6 (permalink)
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04-22-2009, 12:43 AM	#7 (permalink)
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04-22-2009, 08:20 AM	#8 (permalink)
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island cassie island cassie's Photo Gallery Location: Dominican Republic Find me on the map! Zone: 11+ I guess Name: Island Cassie Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 3,170 BananaBucks : 375,661 Feedback: 2 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,708 Times Was Thanked 2,079 Times in 874 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 416 Times	Re: Ever heard of an African Dracken tree? I don't know paulownia but love jacaranda. In South Africa, the city of Pretoria is set down in a bowl, and all the streets are lined with jacaranda - a breathtaking sight when in flower as all the streets are littered with pale blue/mauve flowers. I have seen the occasional tree here but they are uncommon.

04-22-2009, 06:36 PM	#15 (permalink)
island cassie island cassie's Photo Gallery Location: Dominican Republic Find me on the map! Zone: 11+ I guess Name: Island Cassie Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 3,170 BananaBucks : 375,661 Feedback: 2 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,708 Times Was Thanked 2,079 Times in 874 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 416 Times	Re: Ever heard of an African Dracken tree? OK - in Pretoria in the 60's they were the old pale mauve varieties, but beautiful beyond telling!

04-22-2009, 08:33 PM	#16 (permalink)
Bananaman88 Bananaculturist Bananaman88's Photo Gallery Location: Houston, TX area Find me on the map! Zone: 9 Name: Brent Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 3,019 BananaBucks : 216,772 Feedback: 22 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,339 Times Was Thanked 2,263 Times in 1,178 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 191 Times	Re: Ever heard of an African Dracken tree? I would guess Paulownia as well. I don't think Jacaranda would be hardy in Dallas. Paulownias are capable of temendous amounts of growth in one season, but like most fast-growing trees are very prone to breaking up in wind and ice storms.

04-23-2009, 01:13 AM	#18 (permalink)
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04-23-2009, 06:07 AM	#19 (permalink)
Bananaman88 Bananaculturist Bananaman88's Photo Gallery Location: Houston, TX area Find me on the map! Zone: 9 Name: Brent Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 3,019 BananaBucks : 216,772 Feedback: 22 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,339 Times Was Thanked 2,263 Times in 1,178 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 191 Times	Re: Ever heard of an African Dracken tree? Paulownias are fragrant, too from what I remember. Paulownias have very large, fuzzy leaves. Some people call them elephant ear trees. I can't remember what the leaves of Jacaranda look like but maybe this will help you figure out which tree you saw.

04-23-2009, 08:32 AM	#20 (permalink)
lorax Banned lorax's Photo Gallery Location: Ecuador, South America Find me on the map! Zone: USDA 13 / Köppen-Geiger BSh Name: Lorax Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 2,532 BananaBucks : 301,602 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 742 Times Was Thanked 3,040 Times in 1,188 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 464 Times	Re: Ever heard of an African Dracken tree? Jacaranda has mimosa-type leaves, very fine and feathery.

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