What's looking exotic in 2016

Thanks Noisette. I understand how difficult the winter can be. For me the frost is no problem, because I wouldn't trust any of my exotics outside in Yorkshire, though it must be a headache for many others who can grow some outside for much of the time.

My winter problem is in watering. The plants are so crowded into the conservatory over winter that there isn't room to move. Some continue to grow normally and at 10C want some water, but I am only now learning that many others are effectively dormant even though they can be carrying a lot of foliage and want almost nothing over the winter. Its so easy to overwater.

 

That's where the skill and experience comes in, doesn't it? Judging moisture requirements is a challenge...I've killed off more citrus trees than I can bear to think of, through overwatering It must be a bit challenging if you can't lift the pots or get to them to stick a finger in the compost!
Do you grow Luculia gratissima? It's a joy in December and January, with pink, scented flowers. Not easy, though

 

I have never heard of it. Thanks for the introduction. I have just had a Google.

 

@noisette47 My planted Oleander has struggled to produce about 6 flowers so far this year!!!!!!

 

Mine were late to get going, too, @strongylodon. On the bright side, you're not having to sweep up the spent flowers and leaves every day I did cuttings in water to provide enough plants for a hedge. They've now got a nasty disfiguring fungal disease which I'm going to have to tackle this autumn....collection of all old leaves, hard pruning and probably a systemic fungicide
Just a little story about life in SW France.....Yesterday I decided to bash them with a brush before sweeping up, to get rid of as many old flowers as possible. Didn't spot the huge wasp nest hanging from a stem! Luckily, it was relatively cool, so they were a bit slow on the uptake. It's reassuring to know that I can still run like b******* when the need arises

 

@noisette47 I have two variegated double flowered Oleanders and my dwarf one which are doing well, I might see what is around in N Cyprus next week.

Just out of interest, do you see Praying Mantis where you are on your shrubs?

 

Yes, we find brazil-nut-shaped brown papery cocoons stuck all over the place, resulting in Mantes Religieuses. And the odd stick insect!
Happy holidays and good luck with the oleander hunt! Variegated ones are interesting all year round
My double pinks all came from one lonely cutting nicked from St Raphael about 30 years ago. The perfume is lovely Found an interesting one in a local nursery last week, though. A double mix of pale yellow and pink. Let me know if ever you want to do a cutting swap (Assuming I can conquer the disease!)

 

This is a bit of an odd one to post on the exotic thread but I've uploaded the large size so click on the piccie and tell me that Tricyrtis formosa is not exotic..............

 

You're going to hate me, longk, but they leave me cold! Tricyrtis and yellow daisies =shudder

 

I don't hate you, merely embarrassed for you
Gotta agree about any daisy-like flower though.

 

Not tropical, but just to get my own back. Dont look @noisette47

Rudbeckia/ Echinacea cross.

 

Manfreda elongata................


Echeveria cante just gets better and better.............

 

Your'e doing better with the E. cante than I did, it flowered but just looked rubbish.

 

Ah...how generous But come on now....that Manfreda thing......the joy is certainly in the ability to cultivate rather than the aesthetic appeal?? I'm not knocking your expertise...absolutely unrivalled....but looking at the larger picture, where would that fit in to a well-designed border?

 

Buggered if I know! Probably where the Dahlias that I chucked in the compost used to be

To be honest I'm no good at well designed borders. Mostly because the plants that fill them bore me (I have the attention span of a gnat apparently). But also quite largely because I have a lack of imagination. And I like the unusual................