This is a little off-topic, but I was researching Frankia inoculation today (doing more than just asking chat gpt this time) and I stumbled across this paper where they said that Giberellic Acid significantly improves yangmei seed germination—other hormones did not. I’ll have to try using it. They were saying up to 80% germination rate.
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/00380768.1995.10417019
That’s really good to know and consider thanks for sharing.
Hey, I was hiking today just behind my property and saw some bushes/trees with leaves that reminded me of my recently bought Myrica californica. I think there’s at least a good 5 trees in there with trunks up to ~4 inches in diameter. They’re growing out of a small spring, so there’s possibly more further down the hillside as well.
Are you near the coast?
Ehh, up here at the cabin we’re about 7 miles away, so my climate is slightly more mild, but it’s all mountains between me and it so the fog usually stays away. It sounds close, but it’s still a 45 min drive away and the water is of course fridged.
Out of everywhere around this area that they could grow, I’m suprised to possibly find M. californica growing most the way up a blazing, sunblasted mountainside in a burn scar (yes, the fires did get that close to us). Outside of the spring’s reach, most of the other still living plants up there are Ceanothus and manzanita.
My friend here sent me a video of his Yangmei on Facebook. It is in the Seattle area in a 50 gallon pot. The tree is huge and absolutely beautiful to look at. About 5 years old. He moves it under the awnings during winter. Even when it got about 20F last year. I think he moved it into a garage during the 14F the previous year. No other protection. But they’ve grown over a foot this year already. He says they grow faster and faster each year. In his opinion it is as hardy as Yuzu. Which means they will do great in ground.
I dont have a photo to share. And it is hard to share videos.
