Date: Sat, 19 Oct 2002 18:27:30 -0700
Reply-To: BB for Hummingbirds and Gardening for them in the Southeast <HUMNET-L@LISTSERV.LSU.EDU>
From: BB for Hummingbirds and Gardening for them in the Southeast <HUMNET-L@LISTSERV.LSU.EDU>
Subject: Re: [HUMNET-L] comments on Mina lobata?

Paul,

Like yours, my mina lobata vines are rampant, grabbing
my ornamental grass into ponytails and strangling
everything nearby. It's become a thicket, cloaking all
its neighbors like a heavy blanket. The blooms are
beautiful, but too late for the hummers. Still, I'm
awaiting the seed pods to mature for harvesting, as
I'll add it to my treasure chest of plants for my very
different experience in Arizona (is it illegal
there??).

Haji ? Arlington, VA

--- Paul Dickson <Paul@MORRISDICKSON.COM> wrote:
All three prospered
> and nearly wore out
> their welcome as they spread vigorously and did not
> bloom until now.

Date: Sat, 19 Oct 2002 13:46:08 -0400
Reply-To: BB for Hummingbirds and Gardening for them in the Southeast <HUMNET-L@LISTSERV.LSU.EDU>
From: BB for Hummingbirds and Gardening for them in the Southeast <HUMNET-L@LISTSERV.LSU.EDU>
Subject: Re: [HUMNET-L] comments on Mina lobata?

Paul - I have grown Mina lobata (as an annual) on Long Island for several
years, and my hummers love it (even though the flowers don't look
particularly nectiferous). I give it 2 stars for hummer appeal (same as
cardinal climber, Ipomea multifida; Salvia guaranitica gets 4 stars). The
problem here is that while it is still young rabbits nibble the stems, so I
have to keep it in pots until the stems get woody. However, it does flower
earlier in pots. - paul
_________

Paul Adams
The Baiting Hollow Hummingbird Sanctuary
Baiting Hollow, Riverhead, Long Island, N.Y.
USDA Zone 7a
http://www.lihummer.com
padams@notes.sunysb.edu

====================================

Date: Wed, 23 Oct 2002 01:44:55 -0400
Reply-To: BB for Hummingbirds and Gardening for them in the Southeast <HUMNET-L@LISTSERV.LSU.EDU>
From: BB for Hummingbirds and Gardening for them in the Southeast <HUMNET-L@LISTSERV.LSU.EDU>
Subject: Re: [HUMNET-L] comments on Mina lobata?
To: HUMNET-L@LISTSERV.LSU.EDU
Bcc: najames@lsu.edu

In a message dated 10/19/02 8:10:03 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
Paul@MORRISDICKSON.COM writes:

Humnet:  I bought three Mina lobata last spring at a Baton Rouge nursery.
It was an impulsive purchase as I had never heard of the plant.  It seemed
like a good hummer vine.  It was given the over used common name of
'firecracker vine' on the tag.  All three prospered and nearly wore out
their welcome as they spread vigorously and did not bloom until now.  This
I
knew would be the case because the tag said so.  Anyway, the three finally
are blooming and I am most impressed.  The racemes are very upright and
different.  I have too few hummers and too many blooms in the yard now to
know how it ranks with the birds.  It sure seems like they should go for
it.
Does anyone know this plant well?

Paul,
I have grown Mina lobata several times. In Baton Rouge I started seeds in
the spring by sowing right in the ground, and I had blooming plants by
August. They grew a lot like other morning glories - ipomoea lobata is an
alternate common name. Hummers used them as eagerly as they used small red
morning glory- ipomoea coccinea, cardinal climber - ipomoea x multifida,
and cypress vine -ipomoea qualmoclit. I have also grown this vine in PA and
NV with less impressive results. It did OK in PA, but struggled in NV -
perhaps because of the fairly cool, dry climate of Reno it didn't bloom
until Oct, just in time for frost.

Ron Rovansek
Huntington Beach, CA USDA zone 10