Date: Thu, 6 Dec 2001 19:03:23 -0500
From: Backes <backes@ij.net>
To: Van Remsen <najames@unix1.sncc.lsu.edu>
Subject: Re:[HUMNET-L] Russellia

>Linda/Marjorie -- I'm not sure it has a common name -- it's a plant that
>one of the Floridians, Bryant Roberts or Steve Backes?, alerted us to a
>few years ago.

I stand guilty as charged. I found the plant listed as Coral Bush. It was a
sorry looking plant in the "Needs a good home" area of a local nursery selling
for fifty cents. But, the tag said "attracts hummers". It was not for sale
anywhere else in the area and I wouldn't see it again for months. I posted my photos
of the flower and my balcony at:
http://members.tripod.com/~Rowdy13/balcony.html in May of 1998. It was one of
my first web pages. Even if you're not interested in the Russelia, the photos of
my balcony are an example of what can be done to attract hummers when one only has
small area for flowers like a second floor balcony.

I then found a photo of the plant in a Logee's catalog and posted it at:
http://members.tripod.com/~Rowdy13/Logees.html

I had two plants freeze to the ground (in their pots) last December. It has
taken much of the year for them to make a comeback and flower (they're very
root bound). I also had one plant that grew from a rooted section of one of the
potted plants where it drooped and touched the ground. That plant survived the
freezes and was a great hummer plant through spring and fall migration... until
the major landscaping began a couple of weeks ago. I had to move it. It broke
up into four plants. I stuck them in various areas and watered them for a couple
for days. They are all doing great. This has been one of my best hummer plants.

Steve Backes
Valrico, FL

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

Date: Thu, 22 Aug 2002 10:09:53 -0700
Reply-To: BB for Hummingbirds and Gardening for them in the Southeast <HUMNET-L@LISTSERV.LSU.EDU>
Subject: Re: [HUMNET-L] Russellia Sarmentosa/Montana Sightings

Jonathan Rich wrote:

>Humnetters,
>
>Any observations/experience on the attractiveness of russellia sarmentosa
>to hummers? Is it as good, or better, than its cousin, russellia
>equisetiformis (firecracker plant)? I have the latter, and just put in
>some of the former.
>

Jonathan/HUMNET: in my experience (multiple hanging baskets of both),
they are roughly equally attractive. Neither gets an "A" at my place
in terms of hummer attraction, but a "B" grade would be fair, i.e.,
used regularly but not the "magnetic" plant that, say, Salvia
guaranitica, S. Costa Rica Blue, S. mexicana, and Stachytarpheta are.
The main bloom period of sarmentosa at my place is fall and winter,
and it has been used regularly by wintering Rufous and Black-chinned.
Very sensitive to frost, however.
--
Van Remsen
najames@LSU.edu
LSU Museum of Natural Science
Foster Hall 119, LSU
Baton Rouge, LA 70803