Fremontodendron Pacific Sunset

Pacific Sunset was introduced by Rancho Santa Ana Garden. This flannel bush is a hybrid between F. californicum and F. mexicanum. Flannel bushes like lighter soils with moisture nearby, but not next them. Their favorite spots are sandy washes with moisture down 8 ft or so below grade level. In heavy soils any extra rainfall or one summer watering will kill the bush after it gets 3 years old. The pathogens take no hostages and although the do not always die in adobe, they are much harder to work with. If you live with adobe and want Fremontias make a big, big flower bed 3 feet or so deep and fill it with sand, plant it take and water until the roots reach the adobe below, then no more water. If you live in the interior or deserts water extra in spring (also in winter if you are in the deserts), but no summer water after the second year. Pacific Sunset can be a huge plant. The size of a single car garage. Do not plant in a little tract lot if you wish to be able to open the back door, or you really want to bug a neighbor. We made that mistake more than 20 years ago.
You could see the flowers from 400 feet away, but you had a great deal of trouble walking around the bushes as we planted them 10 feet off of a walkway, not enough room! Use F.'Ken Taylor' or Fr. decumbens in smaller yards