I have already shared these images on the hummigbird forum, but Patrick suggested that you folks might like to see them. This is the first year we've had the iochroma and I'm really enjoying it so far... and so are the Ruby-throated Hummingbirds We have 2 plants. The one in the garden was almost destroyed by 4-lined plant bugs early in the spring, but the container speciment is now about 3 feet tall and loaded with blooms. I did find that I needed to prune back some of the leaves as they seemed to be sprouting in front of the blooms, which created an interesting challenge for the hummers. It's good to know that they can "climb' so well

I had no idea until now that this plant is in the brugmansia family. Although the plant seems to be very hardy, if you have any watch-outs or suggestions regarding its care, they will be greatly appreciated!

Bud


"Good to the last drop... "

"The climber..."


Bud
Southwest Ohio
USDA Plant Zone 6a

Camera: Pentax K20D
Lens: Pentax DA*300 f/4, Sigma 180 f/3.5 Macro
There's 1 or 2 more hummingbird / butterfly pics located here...
http://www.pbase.com/budohio

Bud, thanks for posting your photos over here for us. Iochromas & Brugmansias ARE very closely related members of the Nightshade family, which is large & diverse. It includes many plants we're more familiar with, such as petunias, tobacco, tomatoes and potatoes.

As you noted, Iochromas often "hide" their bloom clusters amongst the foliage. These plants will need to be taken in for winter protection - they're not cold hardy. I've read they aren't as happy with dormant storage as Brugs, but I put mine in my heated garage right along with the Brugs. They need just enough watering over the winter to keep them from dying. They'll lose their leaves, then put out new growth in the spring.

During the growing season I fertilize them often. I'm not sure what's recommended, but I feed them about every 2 weeks, when I'm feeding the Brugs (they're fed weekly, so I "hit" the Iochromas every other time). They seem to perform better if not restricted to smaller pots, so I up-pot as seems appropriate for the plant size.

I'll be watching for hummer activity on my I. fuchsioides when it starts blooming. I've seen hummers around them before, but was never sure if they were just checking out the bright red blooms or actually happy to feed from them.

Patrick
USDA Zone 8b
Heat Zone 3
Sunset Zone 5
SeaTac, WA...one cool place

Bud, what lovely pictures, of flora AND fauna! I got a lady I work with on to your hummingbird forum, I will be sure she sees your pics. They are stunning!

Great shots, Bud .... thanks so much for sharing them. I have been unable to grow iochromas in North Texas .... they do not like our heat!

USDA Zone 7/8
Copper Canyon
North Central Texas

Wow, those are some great pictures! That must have been one hungry little bird to let you take so many. Thanks for sharing them. I don't see too many hummers, I don't know where they are.

I had 5 Ios but lost all but my wine-colored one. I have not had any luck with cuttings so far. I bring mine in with the Brugs before frost. If you give them some light, they will bloom all winter. I had one in a hanging basket year before last but they get kind of big for that.

Linda

Linda
Western MD
Zone 5b

Linda, how about giving layering a try?

Patrick
USDA Zone 8b
Heat Zone 3
Sunset Zone 5
SeaTac, WA...one cool place

Bud, your pictures are just beautiful and I've really enjoyed looking at them. I do love my hummers now that they have all returned from a few weeks in hiding. I would love to know why they leave for a while, but return again as tho nothing had happened. LOL!

The Iochroma plant was a good bloomer for me, but they all finally just had enough of Iowa weather. Like Patrick, I held mine over in a cool garage...well actually a cold garage just shy of freezing and they did well. I also have had trouble rooting them in the past. You would think being related to brugs, tomatoes, petunias, etc. that they would root easily.

Again, great pictures. Thanks for sharing them with this forum.

ChSam (Shirley Morr)
Chariton, Iowa
Zone 5

So beautiful, thankyou for sharing them


Sally
Zone 5b
heat zone 4
Enfield Connecticut



http://community.webshots.com/user/sallycummings

That is absolutely beautiful! Congrats.

Jason
Royse City,TX
USDA Zone 8a