Thanks for the photos. I have been trying to learn as much about this tree as I can. I just planted 2 in my yard a few weeks ago that I bought from Colvos Creek. They are seedlings (only a couple of inches tall). One seems to be doing fine and the other is starting to look like it might die.

How long ago did you plant these? It looks like they have some other mature trees surrounding them, so did they have full sun as they were getting established? What type of sun do they receive now? How fast did they grow the first couple of years? Did you provide supplemental water as they were getting started? Any information that you would be willing to share would be appreciated. Beautiful photos.

Jake

Pioneer tree in the wild, liking full sun. Grows over a wide enough altitudinal range that some are nearly hardy here and other types are never seen. The typical plant produces a rounded, evergreen leaf and is tender. The tardily deciduous (fall color is actually fairly decent - when it appears in November), narrow-leaved kind long seen in this area conforms to var. lanceolatum for having these traits. The only other type I know of having made flowering specimens here was stock imported from New Zealand and sold for a time as 'Inca Flame'. This appeared to belong to var. longifolium, because it produced narrow evergreen leaves. I have grown both for some time and have never seen any production of the bottlebrush (Callistemon) -like flowering wands (usually seen on var. lanceolatum in this area) by 'Inca Flame'. That includes several other local specimens of that cultivar I have seen.

Heronswood sold plants as "oak-leaved" for awhile that produced leaves with wavy margins. As grown in my garden it appeared also to belong to var. longifolium, produced a gaunt specimen despite being placed in full hot sun, and appears to have failed in recent fairly sharp winters. As with 'Inca Flame' the dominant/exclusive flowering presentation was that of tufts.

By far the most impressive flowering display seen here is from a tree in a NE Seattle front yard. This is supposed to be an example of the RHS Award of Garden Merit cultivar 'Norquinco'. The Seatte tree covers itself with a nearly sold mass of bloom.

Note that the Kenmore planting shown here actually does not show mature (fully developed) examples of the species mentioned, much larger sizes are possible. For instance, at one time there was a sweetbay magnolia in E Seattle that was 60' tall. This was pointed out by M. Lee of Colvos Creek nursery and listed in R. Van Pelt's 1996 UW Press book Champion Trees of Washington State. Bob also lists an Embothrium 51' tall (Wauna, 1992) and another 48' tall (Seattle, 1989). The Wauna tree was just behind a private beach, the Seattle tree is/was visible from a public street (see A. Jacobson, Trees of Seattle - Second Edition for locations of this and other specimens).

I can't remember when they were planted. 1990's I guess. I first had a bunch in flats growing from seed taken from the U.W. Arboretum tree pictured last. It's my experience that they can have unexplained die off at the seedling to four foot or so stage, so I would suggest getting as many as you can, and look for the strongest ones.

I don't seem to remember them growing very quickly at all for the first couple of years. Then after that, expect steady moderate growth.

Besides when they were very young, as far as I know, there was no supplimental watering. The plant has actually been growing in medium shade since it was planted, and this is the reason it bloomed only on the top this year.

Hi Ron. I would love to find a source for 'Norquinco'. From what I have seen, the flowers look stunning, and different enough to warrant growing. The flowers seem to be longer, and more pendulous.

I think probably those few that we have here (I know just of the one, very apparently different Seattle tree) all came in through Cistus nursery, some years ago, and may not have been on the market since (think I have noticed it listed as being offered by them as recently as The Plant Locator- Western Region (2004, Black-Eyed Susans/Timber, Portland) . I do wonder how this might have been introduced as a clone, through the USDA screening process, unless it was possible to get bare-rooted stock (or rootless cuttings) to make it - I've never asked Sean what they did.

I wonder if seedlings might retain these traits from the parent tree? If so, I would be willing to possibly talk to the owner, and come to an agreement of some sort. It won't be long and it will be viable seed time for Embothriums around here.

I should try cuttings. I successfully propagated Telopea from cuttings so Embothrium ought to be worth a shot. I just have to remember to get over there at the right time this fall and see if I can get permission from the owner. I'm pretty sure I know the tree you're talking about - how sure are you that it is really 'Norquinco'?

I wouldn't mind trying to propagate 'Inca Flame' again as well. I think I managed to kill all those seedlings the first time for some reason.

Last time I visited G.P. in Kent he told me his Embothrium was 51' tall. That was a few years ago so it may be taller now or perhaps it has had some winter damage in the last few colder winters.

I just got some seed of Embothrium coccineum f. andina, a dwarf form that ought to be interesting.

Don't know about that one. The purported 'Norquinco' is the same one you posted photos of. Based on who I was told it is I would think they would be open to sharing propagation material. Growing the firetree from cuttings has been mentioned or described by multiple references for a long time.

I see a var. lanceolatum down the hill from me is making a good showing this year also - probably the best I've seen it, in fact. Unfortunately, the site is re-developing and soil has been piled deeply over the tree's roots on the southwest side.

It is maybe 20' tall. Somebody topped it some years back, so it is shorter and more branching than would normally be the case for one with a trunk of the thickness it has.

I grew out a bunch of seedlings once from the UW Arboretum but sadly, I gave all of them away to a friend and never planted one. Would love to get some more seeds.

The one arboretum tree is more accessible than exceptional.

I saw a lovely one at the Tacoma zoo yesterday. I don't know which cultivar it is.

Hello,
I have three small embothriums in pots here in the U.K. indoors on a south facing windowsill and I am worried that some of the leaves are turning brown from the tips and drying off.
I planted them in a mix of pine needles and gritty compost with no fertiliser and only water sparingly, what am I doing wrong?
Thanks.

Needs cool and moist conditions, if current setting not like a cold greenhouse may not be suitable.

Hello bboy,
Thank you for that. I think the sun through the window must be too hot but I had to move the plants indoors here as the winter temperatures would be
far too cold outside and I do not heat the greenhouses which also go below freezing. I have moved them away from the window sill but they still get good light. Unfortunately they will not be moist.
I do hope youe advice helps. Thank you again.