Canna 2014

Carribean sunset is in full swing now ..

And some Orange hybrids from seed..

 

A new one i bought yesterday, for the grand total of £3! From our local greengrocer/deli.

 

Canna altensteinii

My two C. altensteiniis recently hit the 8 foot ceiling of my sun room and were bending over, so yesterday I managed to drag them outside. I didn't really expect these to flower, having never got C. tuerckheimii (another giant) to flower - so I am delighted.

I grew them from seed last year. This year they regrew from rhizomes - but were very late to start. Now both are flowering.

 

I got to grow some next yr! ,that's fantastic pete! xx

 

I've never had a problem getting altensteinnii to flower Pete and it usually flowers in its first year from seed either in large pots or in the ground

The tallest specimens I've managed were 2 years ago when I got a large clump to top 10/11ft !!!

 

I think I remember you saying that Bilbo - that's fantastic. I am just hoping I might manage to equal that. I think height must depend on how good a summer we get. Mine have clearly benefited from being inside - but, of course, they are on their own now outside.

I like height Joolz - vertical is the only space I've got left in my garden.

 

Me too,i love height so are they species and grow true from seed?

 

Yes Joolz - they are species and will grow true; I got the seeds from Chiltern. Being species, the flower is relatively small compared to the whole plant - but for me that is no problem. I love the size and foliage and any flower is just icing on top.

If you love height - how about Dahlia imperialis. In its native Mexico, I gather that it can get up to 36 feet. I got mine from Hill House Nursery in Devon. There, it reaches 18 feet - inside their greenhouse.

Then there is Tithonia diversifolia. I have seen a picture of one at 26 feet. But I can't find that picture now.

 

I'm the same,love the leaves and size mostly ive planted so many this yr,still got more to plant,ive gone over the top
I have bought some for flower show though,lookin forward to what appears with them all x

 

What have you not got then, eh?

Stooled plants of:


Paulownia tomentosa


Ailanthus altissima

and Catalapa bignoides (possibly Aurea)

Large leaved plants:


Tetrapanax papyrifer rex



Ricinus communis (annual, from seed. Pictures in August). Green leaves width 87cm. Green height (end of season) 210cm, Red height 142cm

And then there are the Bananas:


this is my Musa sikkimensis a few days ago, will be considerably taller by the end of the season and Ensete Maurelii (taken at the end of the season):

 

Fab pics,what glorious plants ....not got the ailanthus but got the others and got a montbeliardii not maurelii,good start i think x

 

I think there is a sucker/pup on mine, I'll put your name on it and nurture it for you

 

Show off

Seriously though, some impressive plants there

 

Regarding Canna altensteinnii, I too got my original seed from Chilterns, the photo on their website is of the first one I grew about 10 years ago

I might have some seed here still, interestingly I've had seed from it stored in an air tight container not in the fridge for over 6 years and it still germinates

 

Carefully chosen camera angle