Fremontodendron 'Pacific Sunset'

Fabulous, tall, evergreen for the dry garden with fuzzy leaves that reflect the common name and, over a long period in spring, bold yellow flowers 15-20 feet tall and nearly as wide in ideal conditions with very good drainage in sandy soil and NO summer water after the second year. Need we say bold statement? Frost hardy in USDA zone 8

Pacific Sunset is a fast growing, small tree. It quickly grows to 20' in height. 3'' yellow flowers abound in the spring with beautiful, profuse abandon. The leaves have a leathery and fuzzy texture reminiscent of flannel (thus the name), and the yellow and orange flowers are large and showy. Flannel bushes like lighter soils with moisture nearby, but not next them. Also, careful placement is recommended due to their dense coating of skin, eye, and nose irritating hairs that are problematic, but only in late summer/early fall. In heavy soils any extra rainfall or one summer watering can kill the bush once it gets 3 years old. Cultivars such as this are horticultural selections and hybrids, not part of the native ecology but work beautifully in the garden. Attracts beneficial insects, bees, butterfly & other insect nectar gatherers. A cross between Fremontodendron californicum and Fremontodendron mexicanum, it was bred at the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden in California.

Showy in leaf and flower, this beautiful California evergreen shrub or small tree never fails to impress. Thick maple shaped leaves are olive green on top, and yellow underneath, and covered in fuzzy brown tomentum. The beautiful, traffic-stopping deep yellow flowers cover the plant over a long period in late spring and early summer. In the Northwest, Fremontodendron hybrids should always be planted in a dry and sunny location in the garden. Under these conditions established plants can handle 10 °F but with too much water or heavy soil it may be damaged at higher temperatures.