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Hardiness: USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F) USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F) USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F) USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F) USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 °C (30 °F) USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 °C (35 °F) USDA Zone 11: above 4.5 °C (40 °F)
Sun Exposure: Sun to Partial Shade
Danger: Parts of plant are poisonous if ingested Plant has spines or sharp edges; use extreme caution when handling
Bloom Color: White/Near White
Bloom Time: Late Spring/Early Summer Mid Summer Late Summer/Early Fall Mid Fall Blooms repeatedly
Foliage: Grown for foliage Deciduous Smooth-Textured
Other details: This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
Soil pH requirements: 5.6 to 6.0 (acidic) 6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)
Propagation Methods: From leaf cuttings From woody stem cuttings From softwood cuttings From semi-hardwood cuttings From seed; winter sow in vented containers, coldframe or unheated greenhouse From seed; direct sow after last frost
Seed Collecting: Remove fleshy coating on seeds before storing
On Jul 8, 2006, ineedacupoftea from Denver, CO wrote:
This plant has grown well in the WCBG Butterfly house since the place was built in November of 1997. It is planted there for its usefullness to butterflies seeking nectar.
When tours are given, it is interesting and entertaining to hear what the kids say when asked what the flowers smell like. "Vanilla" is most common, but I have also heard "sugar, ice cream, honey, icing," and most suprising to me: "milk."
It gets more questions and comments than the unfragrant purple-flowered specimen. It reblooms continually, but with a high point once or twice yearly.
On Jul 4, 2005, budgielover from Pinellas Park, FL (Zone 9b) wrote:
In addition to what has been posted, I grow mine in full sun and it does very well. I have found these variety to be much more fragrant than the other varieties. Frangrance reminds me of lilacs.
On Apr 20, 2005, artcons from Fort Lauderdale, FL (Zone 10b) wrote:
I have had my "White Sky" Alba about 8 years. I started it from a cutting. It's a large bush with spreading branches that can easily be controlled via trimming. It's a fast grower but requires a lot of space to mature and bloom. Mine is in mostly shade and does very well there. In zone 10 they bloom from April through November. There are no problems with suckers. I have a "Golden Dewdrop" variety growing next to it. These bushes are great to use to cover up a sore spot on your property, as long as you have room. Along with small attractive white/whiteish flowers both bushes produce smallish beigh/gold berries which birds seem to enjoy. Both colors are great butterfly attractors. As noted by the previous poster, both my varieties have needle like thorns that are a painfull reminder to be carefull around me. Occasionally mine get small tight spider like webs around the berries after they have been on the bush for a while.
Art
On Nov 5, 2004, Khyssa from Inverness, FL (Zone 9a) wrote:
This is a beautiful, easy to care for bush that makes a wonderful speciman plant. Sometimes older plants will spread by under ground runners.
These plants seem to be available both with and without thorns. I'd advise anyone who wants to plant one to try to find the thornless variety as the thorns are usually at least an inch long and shaped like needles (and just as sharp as well)!
Regional...
This plant has been said to grow in the following regions:
, Mesa, Arizona Davis, California Inverness, Florida Jacksonville, Florida Meadow Woods, Florida Melrose Park, Florida Oldsmar, Florida Pinellas Park, Florida Spring Hill, Florida Sunset, Florida Jefferson, Louisiana New Iberia, Louisiana Carriere, Mississippi Alice, Texas Beaumont, Texas Georgetown, Texas Princeton, Texas Spring, Texas
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