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Search forCold snap will end the glory days for Exeter's stunning tibouchina
Thursday, November 20, 2008, 08:14
But you will have to be quick to catch the giant blue flowers of the exotic tibouchina, or glory tree, for they are set to shrivel and fade in the face of a deep freeze on the way. Temperatures are expected to plummet over the next few days, according to the Met Office in Exeter.
And that will be too much for the tibouchina, which is a native to Mexico and South America, particularly Brazil.
It has done so well so far because it is sheltered between two large greenhouses on the Exeter University campus.
Glasshouses foreman Gordon Newton said: "I believe it was sown by seed 20 years ago. It gets well-protected where it is and has now grown to 15ft. It is well-established and able to flower so well and while the first frost will knock it right back, it will come again .
"We are very pleased with it — and the wonderful poinsettia which we have grown and which we will be providing to shops in Exeter for Christmas. They seem to have done very well this year, too — but people who get them must remember, only water from the top. They don't like their feet wet."
To grow a tibouchina — which boasts flowers up to 3in across — Mr Newton suggests sticking to a draught-free conservatory where they are more likely to thrive.
The Exeter plant should be all right for the next 24 hours but tomorrow, could see the end of its glory days.
A Met Office spokesman said a big change in the weather was due.
"Thursday should be mild, with temperatures in double figures but tomorrow, temperatures are going to fall away quite considerably.
"There will be strong, northerly winds sweeping in and that means temperatures hovering around freezing on Friday night and Saturday morning. There will be sunshine on Saturday but it will feel cold in the day with temperatures not rising much above 5C to 6C in the day and dipping to freezing overnight."
Head gardener Gordon Newton looking after the giant tibouchina urvilliana plant LAURENCE UNDERHILL EE181108_LU01_05
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