A Gardeners Forum
Posted By: LSRidgeCrandall Tower of Fire - July 23rd, 2005 at 12:18 AM
I have this plant that my niece gave me called tower of fire but I can't find anything about it anywhere it grows like mad and I have about 30 little ones from the original plant I was given. Can anyone give me an idea on what this really is or anything else about it? It's supposed to be from Mexico. The biggest one is about 5 feet tall big reddish-purple leaves and stems. wavey
Posted By: RugbyHukr Re: Tower of Fire - July 23rd, 2005 at 02:22 AM
Is this your plant?

Hamelia patens \'mexican fire bush\'
Posted By: RugbyHukr Re: Tower of Fire - July 23rd, 2005 at 02:25 AM
another shot...

#2
Posted By: LSRidgeCrandall Re: Tower of Fire - August 5th, 2005 at 01:18 AM
Neither of those are it. sorry it's been so long it's sprouting more babies from the ones I've transplanted and I just can't seem to keep up. I can't seem to find a picture of it and I don't have a digital camera to take a picture of it. They are now about 6 to 8 feet high with maroonish flowers sprouting in hycinth like bunches. It's not bush-like at all, it grows from a single large stem and sprouts stems from the one large one.
Still unsure of the nature of it but our dry summer has certianly been wonderful for it!
Posted By: RugbyHukr Re: Tower of Fire - August 5th, 2005 at 04:08 AM
So, a tree, not a shrub, huh?

lagerstroemia indica 'crepe myrtle'

Weigela florida
Posted By: LSRidgeCrandall Re: Tower of Fire - August 5th, 2005 at 08:19 AM
No none of those. I had my daughter (PlantFaerie on here) do what she could with my scanner today. She sacrificed (Gasp!) some of the "babies" and some of the flower for pictures. Hope These help!.

<a href="http://www.geocities.com/fallenmacleod/images/closeupfire.jpg"> Close up of leaves and stem </a>
<a href="http://www.geocities.com/fallenmacleod/images/fireflower.jpg"> Close up the flowering part</a>

<a href="http://www.geocities.com/fallenmacleod/images/towerbabies.jpg"> Close up one of the babies</a>
Posted By: Meg Re: Tower of Fire - August 5th, 2005 at 08:32 AM
Gosh, I have no idea, but I *love* the color! I can't wait to find out what it is too..

Meg
Posted By: LSRidgeCrandall Re: Tower of Fire - August 5th, 2005 at 08:34 AM
Meg I can have my daughter send you some if you like! It grows like mad! I started with one plant last year and I know there has to be like fifty out there!
Posted By: weezie13 Re: Tower of Fire - August 5th, 2005 at 09:09 AM
I only peaked at one picture reallllllly quick,
is this it??????
Amaranth/ Love Lies Bleeding
Posted By: LSRidgeCrandall Re: Tower of Fire - August 5th, 2005 at 10:35 AM
Weezie,
The flowers are kinda like that but the leaves are maroonish purple, not a single speck of green on the whole plant. It's driving me nuts! smile
Posted By: weezie13 Re: Tower of Fire - August 5th, 2005 at 10:53 AM
We'll keep lookin' for you!!!
We're pretty good at guessin'
or at least finding the family that
it comes in...
Posted By: LSRidgeCrandall Re: Tower of Fire - August 5th, 2005 at 11:05 AM
Thanks Weezie! I've noticed everyone seems to jump at a chance to help out! This place is great!
Posted By: Gardencrazy Re: Tower of Fire - August 5th, 2005 at 12:07 PM
From what I can tell it does look like an amaranthus. Maybe amaranthus paniculatus?? What do you think?

amaranthus
2nd picture amaranthus


Donna flw
Posted By: LSRidgeCrandall Re: Tower of Fire - August 5th, 2005 at 11:45 PM
Well that looks a lot like it Gardencrazy, but the only difference is there isn't any green on it but the description certianly matches! Esp. how it grows so abundantly!
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