I tried some softwood cuttings last year at about this time of year, just put them in some in a pot with some potting compost, no hormone rooting powder as I didn't have any at the time. They just eventually shrivelled up to nothing, I did water them.

I have read it is easier to propagate it from seed but so far it has not produced any of the fruits.

Any advice on good propagation methods would be great as I seem unable to propagate anything anymore.

Yvonne

I will post a mini propagation guide in a couple of days.

Do you smoke a cigarette after propagating, or just fall asleep?

I usually fall asleep, how about you?

Yvonne it was dificult to find one here in Britain, but I eventually did at a garden centre in Leicestershire of all places. I walked in at the beginning of spring and asked if they had any, and they did, being kept indoors for the winter. Cost me £16, and it looked a bit sad when I unpacked it, but now seems to be doing really well. I have promised Arco-Iris a cutting, so I am sure I can do the same for you. I love the idea of Cytisus flowers appearing all over Chiclana, scenting the air with pineapple. I believe the best time is late summer, so liaise via Arco when I am over in Aug, or PM me.
I have never seen any notices re bringing in food stuff or plants at Jerez, but did see one re foodstuff at Seville at Christmas, and felt very guilty at the thought of the Waitrose duck buried in my suitcase.
Has anyone found fuchsias in Spain ?? I bought a really pretty one today here in London, but have never seen them over there.

We have had no problems finding Fuschias in Spain - perhaps not in as many varieties as available in the UK.

We also have a locally sourced Cytisus - it grows well and we have just had to prune it back after 3 years.

Where did you find the Fuschias ??? And was it a Cytisus Battandieri ?? There are other kinds which are easier to find...

We live on the Granada coast and found the fuschias in our local Viveros.

The Cytisis is not the Battandieri. It is smaller and more like the normal Broom. It flowers in the Spring. It could be Spanish Broom -Spartium Junceum. I find it very difficult to identify exact species - also Spanish viveros frequently use the wrong name or ones which don't appear in the books!

Plenty in our local viveroses here on on the Costa Blanca, we can get several varieties, but they are not named, there are upright and trailing ones.

Yes I found a yellow flowering broom in my local vivero. Just surprised to never see the Battandieri considering it's Moroccan origins.
I took my Readers Digest Gardening Encyclopaedia to Spain but am amazed by the number of plants that are not included. It is aimed towards Northern Europe.

I have that book too and agree with you.

I have two other "bibles". One is a recent book written by one of our neighbours "Mediterranean Garden Plants" by Lorraine Cavanagh. ISBN 84-609-5041-7 and an American book -"The Western Garden Book" by Sunset Publications ISBN 0-376-03875-6. This covers plants common on the west coast of the USA where the climate is very similar to Spain.

I have found this book invaluable and you can get it from Amazon UK at a reasonable price.

I can see an opening for a decent nursery in Spain you know!

Hi Ya,

Lorraine cavanagh has a little nursery just outside Competa that she has just re started, very handy. A lovely lady, met her briefly at a party in may.

Well the ones around us are pretty damned good.....but it just surprises me that some of the plants one would expect to see in a hot country never appear. Hibiscus fans should be in their element....I have never seen such a range including a lovely blue one.

Yep there you go Matt ,bring your trowel and you could maybe find a niche market