WHAT'S LOOKING EXOTIC IN 2018

@CarolineL , is that a seed grown plant, I've had my dwarf pomegranate flower well, but the real thing seems harder to flower.
Yours is doing great.

 

Hi @pete - no I THINK (it's a long time ago) that it was a small plant (probably ebay). It's not very dwarf as a plant - about 6 foot tall! But it has never set fruit before, so maybe I'll find out if the fruit size is why it is supposed to be 'dwarf'.
I'm going to be taking cuttings for when I move next year, so do you want one if they root?

 

Well I move a pretty established "Dwarf" this winter, it is struggling slightly but I'm hopeful, it has green leaves.
Even the so called dwarf ones get big, I think it mostly relates to the size of the fruit.

A pic for @strongylodon , your "chocolate" albizia has started to flower.


Got some Ferocactus now starting to flower.

 

Mine has withered.
I went to Weymouth today and noticed an Albizia Summer Chocolate in a front garden about 8/10 feet high and 6 ft across completely chocolate coloured, I have never seen one that big growing outside. Didn't appear to have any flowers. I must get a pic next time.
Since buying seed many years ago they now produced cloned specimens via tissue culture and would therefore keep the colour and not revert like the seed grown ones.

 

Yes I've seen the Chocolate one for sale locally, but never bought one.
Personally, I'm quite happy with the green version

 

@pete - it would appear that my Ferrocactus has a way to go before it blooms

What is blooming is this Ornithogalum dubium.................
Ornithogalum dubium by longk48, on Flickr

It rather caught me out as it was poked in a corner with all my other winter/spring bloomers. I only noticed it because I was moving all these winter/spring bloomers to the greenhouse for their dry summer bake. None of the other O.dubium are in growth let alone in bloom.

 

Mine died despite being in the garage. B.sanguinea is fine but a little bleached as it is cerainly not enjoying the warmth.

 

Must admit to having a down year regarding Brugs this year, they were not on my list of plants to do too much with, along with Cannas and Gingers.
Not sure why, just felt like a change, still got some plants but most really need a good repot.

I guess I'm getting lazy

 

My only Brug, I've nowhere to plant it out so it stays in a pot and over wintered in the greenhouse.

 

Every year my seed grown Iochroma fuchsioides suddenly defoliates.............
Iochroma fuchsioides by longk48, on Flickr

This year however, for the first time, as well as defoliating it also has flower buds forming.................
Iochroma fuchsioides by longk48, on Flickr

 

All 3 of my Brugs died

 

Love the colour John ... but had a good laugh at "too hot to flower". Must say my pinky/peach one has not flowered but hat is due to neglect on my part.

 

@JWK when did you plant your Brugmansia seed and how.long did it take for it to produce its first flowers?

 

I see where you are coming from victoria, but dont you also find they grow and flower better when it is a bit cooler, mine have always needed massive amounts of watering and feeding, even on a bog standard summer, to keep them looking good.
Usually, I've found, because of the slow start we get, compared to what you probably get, that late summer and Autumn flowering is often the best.