Isn't it to late for new leaves and blossoms on a Japonica? P9290006 by tsebmj, on Flickr Moderator's note: added a more descriptive title to topic
Mine is putting on new growth too John. I've never seen it do this as late in the year before. It's adding a nice splash of colour to the garden.
Japonica is a spieces name shared by many dozens of plants, we have about 60 in our database alone. So in digging through, I think this is the plant you have... Pieris japonica (Japanese Pieris, Japanese Andromeda) Click on the blue link. Does appear to be a few months off in it's blooming schedule. Did it bloom for you last Spring? If you had a really hot summer and now are having a cooler fall it might have been fooled into thinking it's Spring again. Plants down here get confused about the season quite frequently and none have ever had a problem going dormant when the temperatures really begin to drop and warm weather is gone for the year.
I have had it for several years and it always had new leaves and bloom's in the spring. This year hasn't been very different from other years.
Man I wish MY japonica looked like yours! I bought and planted three at the beginning of the season. One is completely dead, one is sort of dead, and one is just.....there. Hasn't gown, hasn't died, looks about the same as when I planted it. So from MY perspective entirely, I'd be THRILLED to see those new leaves.
I was looking through some old pics trying to find a pic of the one I had in OH with new foliage on it at this time of year but came up empty-handed. Mobot says the buds are supposed to form in fall. Have you just had time to pay more attention this year? http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/ ... rcode=e680 Yours is very nice-looking, BTW. Must be happy to be making that thick flush of buds, well done!
Mine have flower stems/buds starting this time of year. They don't bloom until early spring. If I have pruned mine back late they will put on new growth.
Jbest, all of my plants and trees have been doing weird things all summer too. My apples have bloomed twice this year, once in early spring and again in late July! My peach tree is blooming right now, and there has been no cold weather, I live in Florida! I've been hearing many gardeners across the country relaying strange flowerings this year. perhaps it is global warming playing tricks on our plants?
