WHAT'S LOOKING EXOTIC IN 2015

That's lovely Pete. But I do get confused with the English names. Its also called the Bird of Paradise plant.

I was quite fancying it, until I saw that it was happy in arid conditions. The 90% humidity in my conservatory may not qualify as arid.

 

Sesbania puniceus has also been very slow growing this year and it is very late blooming.............

 

Definitely does not like humidity Peter, in fact just a few days of rain can make the flowers start to rot.
Reason I'm thinking the flowers will not last this late in the season, even dew in the mornings can be a problem.

 

Amaryllis belladonna

 

Something @strongylodon sent me a few years ago, a hardy Begonia.
It seeds itself around in crevices, and just thrives on neglect.


Just an update on the Caiophora hibiscifolia, its flowering quite well now, impressed how long each flower lasts


Datura wrightii are still flowering.


Not exotic, but the apple picking season is upon us, these are a few of mine I picked yesterday.


On the farm where I work they picked 200 apple boxes on Friday, each box holds around 300Kg

 

These are not the most exciting photos to look at but they are exciting to me. They show the first flower buds forming on my Deppea splendens




Here's the last of this years seed grown Canna brasilliensis/paniculata to bloom..............


The first plant bloomed way back in June and was growing in pure horse shino (with sand and grit added) and this last plant to bloom is in ordinary MPC. All have been well fed at every watering.

A final flush of flowers has started on Solanum laciniatum.................


Solanum rantonnetii on the other hand has performed poorly this year.............


Strangely despite the cool summer Lantana camara has continued to flower really well ever since late May even though it has been outdoors.............

 

We picked our first and probably only Cox yesterday, caterpillar damage has ruined nearly all of them,

Hedychium Raffilii, doesn't look very different to Tara.


Brugmansia in full flower.

 

Hi Longk,
I don't usually like Canna, they're a bit big and blousey for me but I like that one .

 

Strongy - what a lovely healthy looking Brug.

I agree. Its not the biggest, blousiest, things that are personally the most important.

Mine had done absolutely nothing except grow tall.

LongK - that Lantana is a fabulous colour. Mine, from seed, is pink and yellow -but I prefer yours.

Edit - Until I Googled it I hadn't realised how Splendens that Deppea is going to be. And it is going to be the biggest, blousiest, thing.

 

Considering it is by a North facing wall and hidden by the new Washy growth I am surprised how well the Brug has flowered although I have fed it weekly with tomorite!

This was my variegated Oleander (from Mallorca Aug '14) in Feb.

This it now with first flower buds.

 

I was impressed too.

I felt the same on the whole too but they have grown on me. I prefer the green leafed forms though. I'll send you some tubers of this one if you want?

First blooms on mine too. The one that I planted out last year actually survived but was so late getting going again that it is not worth the effort.

If the seed ripens I can send you some or I can try a cutting in the spring if not.

It has taken me five years of frustration to get this far!

 

The Bougainvillea also from Mallorca is flowering well too.



The two Plumerias have taken over the conservatory, they really have grown this year, the smaller one which I think is white is pushing out a flower bud, I only hope is isn't too late to open.




I planted my two dark red Shrimps (from Nairobi) outside but this is all I have for flower, it has been too cold to get going.


My Lemons are doing well, never had flowers before let alone fruit but apart from Tomorite do they really need anything else to keep them growing?

 

Still not having much luck in getting my Plumerias to flower.

Could try a watering of epsom salts on the lemon @strongylodon, just to green it up a bit.

 

They are the best UK grown Plumeria that I've seen

It's pushing it a bit but still a small victory in itself in my opinion.

 

I have only had them just under three years, they were 6/9" seedlings from The Curious Plant Company (former member 'Rootball'). They still defoliate in Winter as the conservatory temp goes down to about 7/8c min when very cold.

I have just noticed that the feathery foliage left of the Lemon is my Calliandra Surinamensis and also has it's first flower bud.