Dombeya wallichii

Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture

Dombeya Wallichii, Benth. & Hook. (Astrapaea Wallichii, Lindl.). Tree, to 30 ft.: lvs. large, velvety, cordate, angularly lobed, with leafy stipules: fls. scarlet (pink?), in drooping umbels, the peduncles long and hairy. Madagascar.—A very showy plant when in bloom. The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text.

Dombeya wallichii {{{latin_name}}}	Pink Ball Tree
	Habit: Shrub or small tree Height: ⇕ 4-8 m Width: ⇔ Lifespan: ⌛ Perennial Origin: ✈ E Africa, Madagascar Poisonous: ☠	Exposure: ☼ Full or part sun Water: ◍ Regular/High Features: ✓ Flowers, fragrance, leaves Hardiness: ☃ 0 to 5°C Bloom: ❀ Winter USDA Zones: 10-12 Sunset Zones:
	[[{{{domain}}}]] > [[{{{superregnum}}}]] > Plantae > [[{{{subregnum}}}]] > [[{{{superdivisio}}}]] > [[{{{superphylum}}}]] > [[{{{divisio}}}]] > [[{{{phylum}}}]] > [[{{{subdivisio}}}]] > [[{{{subphylum}}}]] > [[{{{infraphylum}}}]] > [[{{{microphylum}}}]] > [[{{{nanophylum}}}]] > [[{{{superclassis}}}]] > [[{{{classis}}}]] > [[{{{subclassis}}}]] > [[{{{infraclassis}}}]] > [[{{{superordo}}}]] > Malvales > [[{{{subordo}}}]] > [[{{{infraordo}}}]] > [[{{{superfamilia}}}]] > Malvaceae > [[{{{subfamilia}}}]] > [[{{{supertribus}}}]] > [[{{{tribus}}}]] > [[{{{subtribus}}}]] > Dombeya {{{subgenus}}} {{{sectio}}} {{{series}}} wallichii {{{subspecies}}} var. {{{cultivar}}}

Dombeya wallichii is a fast growing shrub or small tree that can be grown as a large shrub as well. As a tree it can grow to 8 m in height but can be kept smaller by trimming. The leaves are evergreen, 16-20 cm long and 15-25 cm broad, with a 7-17 cm petiole. It looses its leaves in the winter only if the temperature falls below freezing. The flowers are fragrant and come at the beginning of the year, lasting for over 1 month. The pink flowers are about 3 cm across and can have bracts up to 6 cm long and 5 cm broad.

Cultivation

It likes full sun, plenty of water and fertilizer during the growing season. It is a strong grower and even though it is possible to grow it in a container for many years, it will perform better in the ground.

Old flowers remain a long time, and should be removed to keep a neat appearance. Trimming should be done after the flowers are gone in the spring until mid September. It can be trimmed as far back as necessary without harming the tree.

Propagation

Dombeya wallichii can benefit from being divided as the plant develops multiple canes that have a better chance of success than those that grow out of a single trunk as with a tree.

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