Plants that used to be naff

This year, I haven't visited garden centres so much. ( I hope they're still in business when I get the chance to visit).
Anyway, I bought begonias, dahlias and gladdies. Some are as leery as you'd expect, but some are really good and one begonia, which, admittedly was a bit expensive, is ( can't think of an adjective - stunning is a trifle strong) - but it has pride of place on the patio.
I really wish I could've got golden embers this year but hey ho.
My advice is, don't be snobbish. Give the unfashionable plants a go and dump the ones you don't like. Some of mine are destined for the mercy of a passing pedestrian when the time comes.
There have definitely been improvements

 

That made me laugh One of the plants (bulbs) that I least expected to become a thug in my main border is a strapping lilac Gladiolus. The damn thing self seeds and increases by bulblets. If only it wouldn't fall over it could be a star....

 

Already have all of the above growing well in the garden, you cannot beat them for value and blooms.

Another old fashioned one for the house/greehouse are the Gloxinnias, beautiful blooms if a little short lived, as is the tree lily. all ours below.

 

I hate it when plants go 'out of fashion'
I can't get Gloxinias any more, or Exacum affine, they don't seem available anywhere and I am told they've gone out of fashion.
Another is Fuchsias - there were some lovely Fuchsia nurseries near here and when Beryl and I collected them we'd raid these nurseries every year for varieties we didn't have.
Now all the Fuchsia nurseries have closed or sell other plants, because Fuchsias are deemed old fashioned ... well I think that's stupid.

 

I think partly the fuchsia gall mite made them less attractive to grow for sale. A lot together creates ideal conditions for it to flourish.

 

Did not find any Gloxinia tubers in the local garden centers this year, but still a good few mail order/online suppliers of them.

Still find plenty of Fuchsias locally, usually lots of mini pots of rooted cuttings early in the year for a £1 or £2 and larger plants for the rest of the year.
Still some quality Fuchsia nurseries around like Roualeyn in North Wales.
We would not be without our Fuchsia hanging baskets, everyone seems to like them with their large blousey double blooms.
The only downside is the Gall Mite that is spreading up from the South, though thankfully not affected us yet ..

 

Here's some of mine @JWK
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I don’t really think of certain plants being old fashioned or naff, but rather the colours or combinations. For example, rows of clashing colours of annual mixed bedding says naff to me, but the same plants grouped harmoniously by colour, or in a large pot display and they look more modern.

I love begonias in particular, for the record.

 

I used to grow Gloxinia from seed, I seem to remember them flowering first year from an early sowing.
I've never been into plant snobbery, if I like it I grow it, I grow plants for me not any one else.
Chrysanthemum seem to be an oldy that get forgotten these days, possibly the late flowering.

 

Chrysanthemums don't do well for me but strangely, I find the cats' pee smell of them quite pleasant - unlike the genuine article!

 

Thanks for the fuchsia tip @ricky101 will check them out when we finally move in the area. As my close-up images on the flower close-up thread attest I'm a huge fan of upright fuchsias...baskets not my thing but appreciate the effort people make to make them.

 

As for chrysanthemums they tend to show up quite strongly around the Sussexes and Kent when we visit nurseries and garden centres. After the move I really want to try again some fancy varieties from Chrysanthemums Direct, they have so many lovely varieties. Particularly love the full headed more oriental looking varieties that my granny used to grow with huge pride.

 

Pampas Grass seems to be condemned as a '70's plant and to be avoided at all costs in the "modern" garden. Admittedly, you do need the space but I like it and the birds make use of the plumes for nest building.