[Marilyn]

Hello all,
At our plant fair this Saturday, everyone was stumped by a beautiful climber with a flower that looks exactly like Pavonia multiflora before it opens fully (see photo), except that the outer petals are orange and the tube is a more indigo/navy blue colour. Any clue? It is a plant that was growing in this person's garden when they bought their house and we are all very curious to know what it might be.
Thanks!

[Jill S]

Looking on the web it seems to be  Pavonia x gledhillii 'Rosea' , a 19th century hybrid, not sure about the orange hue to the petals though. It's one for the want list whatever it is.

[Marilyn]

Reading back, I see my message might not have been clear, so just to clarify, the image above is of Pavonia multiflora (put there to jog memories in case it helped).

The plant that was brought in for ID was a robust climber with a flower very like this image, but with orange/indigo instead of magenta/violet colouring.

And Jill, yes, both of them are definitely on the want list!

[oron peri]

Could it be a Rhodochiton?

[JTh]

I have often grown Rhodochiton, they do not resemble the Pavonia in the photo, the flowers are bell-shaped (and I suppose smaller) and the colour more purple-maroon.

[Jill S]

Oops, sorry Marilyn, thought you wanted an identification of a Pavonia variety. Sounds delicious though. Are the flowers upwards or downwards facing? and what is the foliage like?
Jill

[Marilyn]

Thanks for the replies, no definitely not Rhodochiton (atrosanguineus, at least, but I don't know if there are other, different species?)

The flowers are upright-facing and the leaf is large, oval , glossy-ish and mid-green. From the small sample, it seemed a strong climber, perhaps one could liken it to Solandra maxima in habit (smaller and slightly lighter-coloured leaves than the Solandra, though). Or Lonicera hildebrandiana...

The flowers are really exactly like *this photo* (though not so similar to the Pavonia once it (the Pavonia) is fully open), only with that different colouring.

It is driving me a little bit mad!

[Marilyn]

The other thing it reminded me of *slightly* is Michelia figo, but the flower apparently stays in the closed position of that Pavonia in the first photo... also like Malvaviscus arboreus. Hmmmm!

[John]

If it was a climber what about a Passiflora?

[Miriam]

Or maybe Thunbergia mysorensis.

[JTh]

Is it impossible to take a photo of this flower? It would make it a lot easier to identify.

[John]

Perhaps Marilyn has set us a puzzle with a different twist?

[Marilyn]

Thanks all for the continuing efforts, alas it is nothing like any passiflora I ever saw (though I looked up "passiflora orange" just now and there were a couple of things that are not a million miles away - none of that blue colour on the inner parts of the flower though). Thunbergia mysoriensis definitely not, sorry Miriam. Unfortunately, Jorun, I did not take a photo when I could, the chap whose plant it was approached me in the middle of a plant sale and I had to go off and do something else before I had the chance (or the good sense) to take a photo. I will have to find out where he lives...!

But really, if you look at the photo in the first post, this climber's flower was exactly like it, just with the different colouring. Leaves also similar. I will certainly let you all know if I manage to track it down!

[Joanna Savage]

Could it be another Curcuma, John J had one in a guessing game earlier on this year? The leaves seem to be about the right shape, but then Curcuma doesn't climb?
The horticultural trade seem to be pushing Curcuma this year, even though there is not much chance of success in a mediterranean climate.

[John]

Can you say what sort of length the unopened flower would have been? Also do you remember what the leaves looked like?