Care of the tree Dombeya x cayeuxii or Pink Ball Tree |
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The genus Dombeya, family Malvaceae, includes 400 species of shrubs and trees native to Africa, Central America, and Madagascar. Some species are: Dombeya x cayeuxii, Dombeya tiliacea, Dombeya rotundifolia, Dombeya burgessiae, Dombeya wallichii, Dombeya punctata, Dombeya acerifolia. Common names: Pink Ball Tree, Tropical Hydrangea. It's a hybrid resulting from the crossing of the Dombeya burgessiae and Dombeya wallichii species. They are shrubs or small trees with a rounded crown that reach 7 meters (22.96 feet) in height. The large, dark green leaves (up to 30 cm/11.8") are heart-shaped with finely serrated margins. At the end of the long peduncles, pink flowers appear in hanging umbelliform cymes. They bloom from fall to late winter; the flowers last a long time on the plant, they are melliferous and attract bees. They are used as isolated specimens in medium and large gardens; they are suitable for large pots. Dombeya x cayeuxii can grow in full sun or semi-shade exposure. It does not tolerate frost; he prefers that the temperature does not drop below 6 ºC (42.8 ºF). They prefer a well-drained soil that contains organic matter. They resist the drought well but they appreciate regular waterings in summer; wait for the soil to dry before watering. Fertilize with manure, humus or compost in early spring and every 20 days with mineral fertilizer in summer and fall. Prune intensively after flowering to maintain a compact appearance. Faded flowers should be pruned. They are fast growing plants that can be attacked by mites and aphids in summer. They propagate by cuttings in summer or by seeds sown in spring. |
Images of the tree Dombeya x cayeuxii or Pink Ball Tree |
 Dombeya x cayeuxii  Dombeya x cayeuxii  Dombeya x cayeuxii |