Pineapple Brush

Discussion in 'General Gardening Discussion' started by accidentalgardener, Nov 24, 2009.

  1. accidentalgardener

    accidentalgardener Gardener

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    Hi,

    I was given a Pineapple Brush by a neighbour and it looked very stringy but i thought i would give it a go - that was in the summer and it has shot up to around 8ft but still stringy looking - the main trunk if i can call it that and a few spindly branches with lovely velvety leaves.

    It hasnt flowered and i dont know whether to rip it out or prune it back or maybe just leave it.

    I know absolutely nothing about this plant so any suggestions would be appreciated :D
     
  2. pete

    pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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    Pineapple bush, is that?

    Maybe pineapple broom?

    Cytistus battandieri.

    If so it flowers on the previous seasons growth, so any pruning now would take any flower buds off.

    If its going to flower next year the buds could well be showing now.

    They do get leggy and pruning after flowering is best.
    But never cut it hard back.
    Early summer I would say.
     
  3. accidentalgardener

    accidentalgardener Gardener

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    Its a pineapple broom but the lady who gave it to me said it was a brush :D

    There aren't any buds on it, do you think i should leave it alone until summer?

    Thanks for the info by the way :D
     
  4. pete

    pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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    Personally I would leave it for now, if it shows no signs of flowers by June next year, give it a bit of a tidy up, but dont prune back into old wood.

    Then let it grow for the rest of the summer, it needs a good sunny location to flower well, and a poor soil helps to stop it making lots of leggy growth.
     
  5. shiney

    shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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    Hi Paula,

    As Pete says, don't prune it and don't feed it. Although it has, unexpectedly, proved hardy in this climate it won't be too happy in an exposed windy spot. It prefers to be close to a south facing wall or fence. Although it isn't directly related to the pineapple it is called that because the scent of the flowers is like pineapple.

    good luck with it :gnthb:
     
  6. clueless1

    clueless1 member... yep, that's what I am:)

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    Digressing slightly, but I once read that sweeping brushes are also called brooms because they used to be made of dried Broom.
     
  7. paul-yokaholnes

    paul-yokaholnes Apprentice Gardener

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    i though this was some kind of cleaning device when i saw the title
     
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