Babingtonia Virgata 'Baeckea'

[distractor]

Hi there,
This little specialty I found in a rotten old corner in a local nursey struggling for life but seemed to be doing
abnormally well in the waterlogged conditions it was in. Apon first getting it into the car, I accidentally broke
3 large branches off but seemed to improve the shape if the tree. There is nothing much I can say about this tree
apart from that I think it may be destined for a windswept style. I have done nothing to this one yet
apart from a repotting into a 12cm midnight blue glazed pot with a 90/10 Spongalite and peat mix.
I think it has an interesting trunk and has a good nebari potential underneath the soil level which I slowly raise
the tree as the years go by. Please let me know your thoughts positive or negative.

[Ash]

Hi Distractor-
I think that this tree might be a Cuphea and not a Babingtonia.
Good luck!
Ash

[Pup]

I am with Ash, that it is not a Babingtonia virgata, the leaf shape is wrong as is the colour of thr bark.

I have two that I will post so you can see the difference.

Cheers Pup

P1080847.JPG

P1080849.JPG

[mugen]

Hi distractor Nice find! like the look of the trunk. agree with ash and pup dont think its a Babingtonia Virgata 'Baeckea' not sure what it is though

[Chris H]

Whilst I agree that this isnt a Babingtonia can I ask Pup and other experts a question or two about the.

I have a couple of them occupying a corner of my yard, they are going to be in the way within 12 months or so.

When is the best time of year to move them and pot them?

Do I hard prune them back to just trunk lines?

Will they benefit from a slow reduction of roots to get them into a smaller pot or should I just cut back hard and trust they will recover?

(if you know who is reading, I am ready to move them whenever the time is right)

[MelaQuin]

It definitely is not a Babingtonia - bark, leaf and flower are totally wrong. I've seen the plant before but I have never had one and can't recall what it is. Here are a couple of closeup of Babingtonia [Baeckea]

Baeckea flowers.jpg

Baeckea Nev 2007-12 3.jpg

[Steven]

if you know who is reading, I am ready to move them whenever the time is right

You don't have to ask twice mate - I'm in
If we have 12 months till the demo starts we could trench around them now, fill the trench with an open mix and let them grow lots of new fine roots. Then we lift them next year after they flower.

Or we could just lift them tomorrow

S.

[Pup]

Whilst I agree that this isnt a Babingtonia can I ask Pup and other experts a question or two about the.

I have a couple of them occupying a corner of my yard, they are going to be in the way within 12 months or so.

When is the best time of year to move them and pot them?

Do I hard prune them back to just trunk lines?

Will they benefit from a slow reduction of roots to get them into a smaller pot or should I just cut back hard and trust they will recover?

(if you know who is reading, I am ready to move them whenever the time is right)

I have not been ignoring you Hartos, I have been looking for the trees when I collected them. I do know it was around this time of the year, as I and a mate dug the big one. They do shoot back on old wood but not always where you want.
They were both from garden makeovers and the usual dig today cos they won't be the tomorrow. If you have the opportunity to take them as Steven has suggested I would do it that way.
With the usual collection after care. Cheers Pup

[distractor]

OK. So its a Cuphea Hyssopifolia Alba?
http://www.wellgrowhorti.com/Pictures/L ... 20Alba.jpg
The nursery guy told me it was a Baeclea so I naturally went with Babingtonia.
Could a moderator please edit my title to correct this please?
Could anyone throw some styling ideas at me?

[Chris H]

The golden retriever has been trenching around it for ages.

Lets see what the weekend brings, maybe we can focus heavily on doing some trenching in between beers.

[GavinG]

I'd guess your tree might start at the five inner buds, and get rid of the rest of it. Maybe cut the extensions back gradually, to push the growth back into the core. Maybe jin the thickest trunk? Maybe lean even more left-wards?

8 cents worth.

Gavin