WHATS LOOKING EXOTIC IN MAY 2014

LongK - many thanks for your kind offer. But I already have one.

I have normally grown plants from seed, but recently I have bought a few very specific plants, where you often can't find the seeds easily. Prompted by your mention of T. mysorensis a while ago, I had a closer look at the Thunbergia genus and currently have T. alata (from seed this year), gregorii, grandiflora, battiscombii (about to flower) and have on order mysorensis. Battiscombii is rather more of a shrub than a climber, but all the others seem to suit my garden room. They are all tropical climbers that will hopefully cover the roof as well as the walls. And they all like heat (not always so easy) and high humidity (very easy - just keep doors and windows closed).

During the day the air warms up and the %rh in my garden room falls, but at night when the temperature drops the %rh hits 100% and the walls and ceiling are dripping with condensation every morning. I like to keep the doors and windows closed quite a lot of the time to raise the temperature, so I think the high humidity aspect may well remain over the summer. I am not willing to run a dehumidifier all year round as its expensive, and a lot of the plants like the Thunbergias actually like the humidity.

So I a more coming round to the idea that I don't have a conservatory but a large walk-in terrarium. This has implications - but it may actually clarify where I should be going.

 

Paulownia tomentosa stooled ready for some monster leaves later this year


Couple of 4-footers


T-Rex with particularly exaggerated lobes (ex Dave Brown HTUK)


Angelica gigas


Fatsia Spiders Web


Solanum laciniatum - still alive after the mild winter and flowering already. I figure its going to be MASSIVE this year


Cardoons - also massive already ...

 

It's starting to sound as if a Nepenthese could be on the cards....................

 

Kristen - you already have some amazing growth there. I have never grown Paulownia but found this on www.plants.com.pk
Paulownia holds the world record for the fastest growing tree in the world.Normally a paulownia would reach 12-14 feet in it’s first year
ever tried?

Everything is possible - I keep finding there are yet more avenues to be explored.


I am delighted by this - my first ever flower for Thunbergia battiscombei. The colour really is that dark. Its just come out of a rather cute flower pouch above covered in tiny hairs.

 

I have a couple of spares if you want one. They are second year from seed, so could perhaps be Stooled this year (or maybe plant and let settle in for a year first)

 

That's very kind Kristen, but I am going to have to say no thank you. There are so many things that I would love to try, but I am trying to be very disciplined as I just don't have the space.

 

Paulownia today at OBG.....................

 

I would be delighted too!

 

Melianthus major, liked the mild winter and is moving in on the lawn



Trachys are all flowering now,




Aloe striatula flower buds starting to show,

 

Oh and I found a few flowers on this, I usually hack it back, but missed this bit.
macfadyena unguis-cati.

 

And that is why I've resisted that particular temptation so far!

Snap! Two spikes from one point....................


Another lower down?


And at the top the plant is dividing!!

 

Lower one looks like a new branch forming to me Longk

 

I do believe that you're right (again!). So it wants to be a tree then!

 

Yep. lets hope we get a run of mild winters, and see how big it can get.