After failing to sprout Cecropia peltata I decided I'm just going to get saplings of this genus of trees. They will come from southwestern Chiapas, Cecropia obtusifolia is the common one down there. I want to plant one of these trees in a sidewalk but this sidewalk doesn't really get too much sunlight during winter and gets a lot during summer and spring. Is this space good for the tree or should I think of another spot?

49 minutes ago, idontknowhatnametuse said:

After failing to sprout Cecropia peltata I decided I'm just going to get saplings of this genus of trees. They will come from southwestern Chiapas, Cecropia obtusifolia is the common one down there. I want to plant one of these trees in a sidewalk but this sidewalk doesn't really get too much sunlight during winter and gets a lot during summer and spring. Is this space good for the tree or should I think of another spot?

When i look at observations on iNat, i see plenty of examples of these starting off in... ..or emerging from / above lots of bright shade so, ...imo, think as long as the overall light is bright during the winter where you want to plant it, you should be ok..

Could always plant two.. One in the desired spot, and another where it would get more winter sun and see how both do.

Genus is Dioecious ..Is what is suggested by most info. at least.. So, if you want eventual seed to pass around, you'd need one of each sex.

My biggest wonder is how the roots on these might beave in a tight spot ..if the spot in the sidewalk is limited. Especially once big ( ..and they can get quite large )

34 minutes ago, Silas_Sancona said:

When i look at observations on iNat, i see plenty of examples of these starting off in... ..or emerging from / above lots of bright shade so, ...imo, think as long as the overall light is bright during the winter where you want to plant it, you should be ok..

Could always plant two.. One in the desired spot, and another where it would get more winter sun and see how both do.

Genus is Dioecious ..Is what is suggested by most info. at least.. So, if you want eventual seed to pass around, you'd need one of each sex.

My biggest wonder is how the roots on these might beave in a tight spot ..if the spot in the sidewalk is limited. Especially once big ( ..and they can get quite large )

I've seen them in sidewalks in the Yucatan Peninsula. I have never seen them damage the concrete. I'm going to order 3 trees so I hope I get one of the opposite sex.

1 hour ago, idontknowhatnametuse said:

I've seen them in sidewalks in the Yucatan Peninsula. I have never seen them damage the concrete. I'm going to order 3 trees so I hope I get one of the opposite sex.

It's a very interesting genus of trees that definitely attracts people when they see it, esp. when you catch sight of the powdery, bright white undersides of the leaves on some sps, like peltata ( Can't remember if obtusifolia possesses the same trait or not ).. Maroon to bright reddish orange new growth is neat too..

If i could find a U.S. source for seed ..that i could trust would be fresh, either sp would be fun to try here.. I may not have enough canopy to keep them from burning during our summers ( ..and / or experiencing any frost -related damage during our uncommon, colder winters ) but, my neighbor w/ the fruit forest(s) and another neighbor have better spots to try one in their yards.

Might have to ask them about bringing back cleaned seed they might be able to find while they're visiting relatives in Panama next month.

21 minutes ago, Silas_Sancona said:

It's a very interesting genus of trees that definitely attracts people when they see it, esp. when you catch sight of the powdery, bright white undersides of the leaves on some sps, like peltata ( Can't remember if obtusifolia possesses the same trait or not ).. Maroon to bright reddish orange new growth is neat too..

If i could find a U.S. source for seed ..that i could trust would be fresh, either sp would be fun to try here.. I may not have enough canopy to keep them from burning during our summers ( ..and / or experiencing any frost -related damage during our uncommon, colder winters ) but, my neighbor w/ the fruit forest(s) and another neighbor have better spots to try one in their yards.

Might have to ask them about bringing back cleaned seed they might be able to find while they're visiting relatives in Panama next month.

Yeah that's the reason why I want one. I like the arching branches too and the fact that they attract tons of birds. C. obtusifolia has noticeably redder new growth than C. peltata. They do have the silver undersides too.

@Silas_Sancona It's in

Also recieved these ones but I planted them in the park, they both have green so I'm sure they'll resprout. I watered them a lot and placed them in full sun.

Estafeta took a whole week to deliver them.

2 hours ago, idontknowhatnametuse said:

@Silas_Sancona It's in

Also recieved these ones but I planted them in the park, they both have green so I'm sure they'll resprout. I watered them a lot and placed them in full sun.

Estafeta took a whole week to deliver them.

Like how the one you kept for yourself looks compared to the other below ( Hard to tell which side is the root / top ) but, w/ your heat / humidity this time of year, that should help get it going again..

Keep us updated..

10 minutes ago, Silas_Sancona said:

Like how the one you kept for yourself looks compared to the other below ( Hard to tell which side is the root / top ) but, w/ your heat / humidity this time of year, that should help get it going again..

Keep us updated..

10 minutes ago, Silas_Sancona said:

Like how the one you kept for yourself looks compared to the other below ( Hard to tell which side is the root / top ) but, w/ your heat / humidity this time of year, that should help get it going again..

Keep us updated..

Will do.

@Silas_Sancona since the main branch is dead, are these stipules eventually going to become new branches?

1 hour ago, idontknowhatnametuse said:

@Silas_Sancona since the main branch is dead, are these stipules eventually going to become new branches?

Using your pictures, shot #1 specifically..







Obviously, orange dashed line represents where the stem has died back.. Cecropia tend to have hollow stems, so some deg. of die back is expected when a stem is cut.

Question now is: how far down does the die back go? ..is it like Bamboo ....in the sense that any die back from a cut stem is restricted to the stem section above a node ( At the top where the first potential bud might emerge from = dark blue line )

..Or will die back extend further down before currently dormant nodes located along the stem ( light blue lines ) start throwing new growth ( Circled Yellow Orange area )

Green circled area of the stem / node along the stem = what i'd imagine is older wood that should be old enough to resist any die back creeping toward it ....better than the tender -est newer growth toward the top. Might be where new growth emerges, if it doesn't further up.



Shot 2: Is the line i see on the far left side of the stem a wrinkle, or just a shadow? Can see what likes a new bud starting to swell along the node in the center of the shot. Wrinkle could mean that part of the stem is damaged.. You'll know for sure if it starts turning brown / wrinkles even more.

In that case, < Hopefully not > new growth may end up emerging from the base..