Pinecrest Gardens Blog: Spring Is In The Air: Freycinetia In Bloom!

Press release from Pinecrest Gardens Blog:

February 28, 2022

A quick loop through our lower garden trail in late February, early March will have you stopped in your tracks at the sight of the Freycinetia blooms!

These peachy colored, triangular shaped beauties are in full bloom right now and are sure to catch your eye. Freycinetia is a rare plant to find in cultivation, so we're lucky that we have established blooming plants at Pinecrest Gardens. The common name, Climbing Pandanus describes the plant's family, Pandanaceae. Pandanaceae is a family of flowering plants, found in tropical and subtropical regions of the old world, from West Africa through the Pacific. It's related the more common Screw Pine, and has similar shaped leaves with small spines on the underside. When planted in an understory, it's leaves have the ability to attach to tree trunks and climb.

The flowers of this plant are dioecious, meaning male and female flowers develop on separate plants. The showy bright parts of the flower are actually bracts, which are modified leaves! Bougainvillea is another flowering plant with brightly colored bract that appear petal-like. The male flowers of Freycinetia are generally considered to be more attractive than the female form, and are even sold in the floral industry. The male flowers feature a bold stamen that is wrapped within the bracts, while the female flowers will yield bright red fruits after pollination.

The plant was first discovered sometime in the early 1800s by Charles Gaudichaud Beaupr, a French botanist who embarked on a circumnavigational plant collection journey. The naval commander of this expedition was Louis De Freycinet, who Charles named the plant after. Amongst many plant discoveries, together Louis and Charles traveled along the coasts of Australia, and were able to develop a complete map of the Australian coastline. Freycinetia was just one of the many plants they recorded.

As you stroll along the lower garden path, look for the blooming Freycinetia near the streams as you cross over the bridge. You can't miss their signature peachy blooms!

This press release was produced by Pinecrest Gardens Blog. The views expressed here are the author’s own.