Need an ID of this flower

[MotherOfMany]

This is growing in South Texas. The plant is as tall as a single story house. The elderly lady said her brother planted it well over 30 years ago. It's got a hard flesh teardrop shaped balll that the flower busts out of like a trumpet when it blooms. The petals are packed full and fluffy like a carnation. Any ideas what it is and how it reproduces?

 

[MotherOfMany]

 

[vfem]

Its either a Camelia or type of Rhododendron.

 

[journey11]

I was thinking rhododendron too, although I don't think I've ever seen one in that color. They do get tall. Very pretty!

 

[patandchickens]

Not rhododendron.

Camellia or crepe myrtle?


Pat

 

[MotherOfMany]

It blooms like a crepe myrtle. The balls that the bloom busts out of are about the size of a nickel though. The bloom is about 2 inches in diameter. The ball opens like a little trumpet on the backside of the bloom. The bloom has little fragrance.

 

[vfem]

Well they are not crepe myrtle, too large and they don't come in that color. I'm still thinking Camelia. More petals on those, the hybrids don't smell as much as the pinks and whites do... so that would make sense.

 

[Lavender2]

Could it be a Pomegranate? ... ... your description of the ball thing sounds like that ...

Oh.. and WELCOME to TEG! ...

 

[MotherOfMany]

Ooooh this has been the best lead so far! The Camillia flowers look too flat and not full enough.
http://www.floridata.com/ref/P/puni_gra.cfm

This link has listed som varieties of the pomegranate that does not fruit. Very interesting.

 

[Lavender2]

When my daughter lived in TX she called often with plant questions. That's just how she described it ... a big bush with orange balls.
The one in her yard did not fruit, but we never figured out what kind it was. It was beautiful when it was blooming!
She lives back up North now, and it's much easier to help her with landscaping ...