DOMBEYA GROWING HINTS
DOMBEYAS
Dombeyas are often called Wild Pear in their native land Africa. I am not sure why that is as there is nothing pear like about the fruit, in fact the seeds are miniscule.
They are in the Malvaceae family and therefore are often sought after by moths as a food source for their larvae and caterpillars. They are much loved by bees and other insects.
There is some conjecture about whether they are shrubs or trees. I think they are trees with a shrub like attitude. When you prune them back they do not come back like a normal shrub which is why I think they are more like trees.
They are extremely drought hardy and will lose leaves in dry times but will not die. Once they have established as a small plant there is no need to water them, so they can be planted on slopes and in tough areas. They do not like cold and the leaves will go red when temperatures drop below 10 degrees Celsius. Because of their good foliage I believe they will recover from a light frost.
They should be planted in full sun as they flower much better.
They have non-aggressive root systems. so are suitable to plant close to walls and paving. However, they do grow wider than they grow tall and therefore you do need a lot of room for them to spread. So, when planting them think of paths because they are shrub like and grow low down for many years although they do get a short thick trunk eventually. After about 15 years I can grow Cliveas and other shade loving plants underneath them. I prune them away from paths, but I don’t prune the tops of them and I don’t prune them to keep them small.
They flower from Autumn through to spring and they do like a dry winter. What is common with all the varieties is that the flowers do hang onto the trees after finishing and turning brown. I don’t mind this and let nature takes its course. It is wonderful to have so many flowers in the middle of winter and I would not be without them for this reason.
They can seed and they seem to prefer other varieties of Dombeyas to hybridize with although they have both male and female parts on the same tree. They can be propagated by layering and also cuttings. The cuttings need to be semi-hardwood taken in Summer at least pencil thickness. They do take a long time to take with cuttings so be patient.
I NEVER fertilise them but I am happy that they self mulch with their flowers and leaves. I rarely need to add extra mulch.
Dombeya burgessiae is the most commonly grown and is quite variable. It comes in pink and white. I only had pink until I planted one close to a Dombeya tiliacea and then I got white seedlings. It grows to about 4 meters high and flowers from May to August and then will have a short flowering in November. The flowers are held in clusters of about 6-10.
Dombeya cacuminum is the largest and is definitely a tree. It is often called Winter’s joy as it flowers in July. The flowers are red and hang down often in the centre of the tree. It is a site to behold. I have lost one to borer and find it is happier on a slope.
Dombeya x cayeauxii often called the pink ball tree as the flowers hang down on a stem about 15 centimetres long and form a complete ball about 15 centimetres in diameter. It’s leaves are similar to burgessiae and flowers at the same time. It is believed to be a cross between burgessiae and walichii.
Dombeya ianthotrica known as the climbing Dombeya. It is quite different from the others as it is a scrambling form and needs to grow in a forest type environment where it can use other trees to scramble up to the light. The leaves are a similar shape to burgessiae except that the leaves have red hairs and are quite red when new. The stems also have red hairs and the flowers are orange/red and are a larger cup shape and hang down in bunches. Because of its scrambling habit it often layers itself. Dombeya ianthotrica flowers from June onwards.
Dombeya pulchra is similar in habit and form to burgessiae. The flowers are white with a dark red centre. The leaves have silver hairs on the backs of the leaves.
Dombeya rotundifolia can grow to a height of 8+ metres. This is a fully deciduous species, losing all its leaves in winter. It makes a stunning specimen for your garden in summer, exploding into masses of white flowers and making it one of the most attractive species. I have never seen this variety and am not sure if it is in Australia.
Dombeya tiliacea is known as the Natal wedding tree and grows more upright but the branches are thin. It is the first of the Domeyas to flower and put on its show in April although I have known it to delay the flowering due to lack of rain, which is how I got seedlings with burgessiae. The flowers are white and in much smaller bunches, but the flowers are all over the tree. The sound of the bees when this tree is in flower is deafening.
They are in the Malvaceae family and therefore are often sought after by moths as a food source for their larvae and caterpillars. They are much loved by bees and other insects.
There is some conjecture about whether they are shrubs or trees. I think they are trees with a shrub like attitude. When you prune them back they do not come back like a normal shrub which is why I think they are more like trees.
They are extremely drought hardy and will lose leaves in dry times but will not die. Once they have established as a small plant there is no need to water them, so they can be planted on slopes and in tough areas. They do not like cold and the leaves will go red when temperatures drop below 10 degrees Celsius. Because of their good foliage I believe they will recover from a light frost.
They should be planted in full sun as they flower much better.
They have non-aggressive root systems. so are suitable to plant close to walls and paving. However, they do grow wider than they grow tall and therefore you do need a lot of room for them to spread. So, when planting them think of paths because they are shrub like and grow low down for many years although they do get a short thick trunk eventually. After about 15 years I can grow Cliveas and other shade loving plants underneath them. I prune them away from paths, but I don’t prune the tops of them and I don’t prune them to keep them small.
They flower from Autumn through to spring and they do like a dry winter. What is common with all the varieties is that the flowers do hang onto the trees after finishing and turning brown. I don’t mind this and let nature takes its course. It is wonderful to have so many flowers in the middle of winter and I would not be without them for this reason.
They can seed and they seem to prefer other varieties of Dombeyas to hybridize with although they have both male and female parts on the same tree. They can be propagated by layering and also cuttings. The cuttings need to be semi-hardwood taken in Summer at least pencil thickness. They do take a long time to take with cuttings so be patient.
I NEVER fertilise them but I am happy that they self mulch with their flowers and leaves. I rarely need to add extra mulch.
Dombeya burgessiae is the most commonly grown and is quite variable. It comes in pink and white. I only had pink until I planted one close to a Dombeya tiliacea and then I got white seedlings. It grows to about 4 meters high and flowers from May to August and then will have a short flowering in November. The flowers are held in clusters of about 6-10.
Dombeya cacuminum is the largest and is definitely a tree. It is often called Winter’s joy as it flowers in July. The flowers are red and hang down often in the centre of the tree. It is a site to behold. I have lost one to borer and find it is happier on a slope.
Dombeya x cayeauxii often called the pink ball tree as the flowers hang down on a stem about 15 centimetres long and form a complete ball about 15 centimetres in diameter. It’s leaves are similar to burgessiae and flowers at the same time. It is believed to be a cross between burgessiae and walichii.
Dombeya ianthotrica known as the climbing Dombeya. It is quite different from the others as it is a scrambling form and needs to grow in a forest type environment where it can use other trees to scramble up to the light. The leaves are a similar shape to burgessiae except that the leaves have red hairs and are quite red when new. The stems also have red hairs and the flowers are orange/red and are a larger cup shape and hang down in bunches. Because of its scrambling habit it often layers itself. Dombeya ianthotrica flowers from June onwards.
Dombeya pulchra is similar in habit and form to burgessiae. The flowers are white with a dark red centre. The leaves have silver hairs on the backs of the leaves.
Dombeya rotundifolia can grow to a height of 8+ metres. This is a fully deciduous species, losing all its leaves in winter. It makes a stunning specimen for your garden in summer, exploding into masses of white flowers and making it one of the most attractive species. I have never seen this variety and am not sure if it is in Australia.
Dombeya tiliacea is known as the Natal wedding tree and grows more upright but the branches are thin. It is the first of the Domeyas to flower and put on its show in April although I have known it to delay the flowering due to lack of rain, which is how I got seedlings with burgessiae. The flowers are white and in much smaller bunches, but the flowers are all over the tree. The sound of the bees when this tree is in flower is deafening.
Let nature be your guide
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