WHAT'S LOOKING EXOTIC IN 2017

@NigelJ Did you raise this from seed or did you buy them as a plant... So exotic!

 

Caesalpinia gilliesii, first flowers this year.

 

@alp
Most have been bought as dormant tubers. I have tried seed, but with mixed results. Seed can be difficult to obtain for anything but the common species. Then germination can take over a year and some don't show above ground until two years after sowing. Fresh seed if obtainable may well germinate more readily.
Have you tried any from seed?

 

@NigelJ It's the first time I have ever seen this exotic flower. I know how difficult it is to raise any exotic beauties from seeds. I tried my hand at protea last winter and I "smoked" myself whilst trying to smoke the seeds. Only one has survived, and it is still alive, with 4 tiny leaves. Raising stuff from seed is cheaper, but sometimes, it can be really hard work. Nice to see your unique plants. A wonderful thread!

 

@JWK That's the spirit! Way to go!

 

@alp

I believe you can buy filter papers impregnated with smoke that you then soak in water with the seeds. Avoids the problem of self smoking.

 

Yes, I found that out AFTER that. But I still use my home-made smoke water now!

 

Arisaema tortuosum

 

Love the hibiscus @Richard360 ! And the Caesalpinia @pete
This may look modest, but I feel very proud of myself - it's castilleja latifolia from seed doing its first flowering. (Alright, it was easier than I thought) It is a hemiparasite - the ones doing really well are where I have planted carex or common lawn grasses into their pots

 

Castilleja, Is that what is know as indian paintbrush.
I grew it for a few years.

 

Hi @pete - yes it is... I thought you might have grown it! Anyone with a Protea cynaroides living outside and caesalpinia flowering would find it easy I suppose So, make me feel even worse - have you managed to get swainsona formosa to flower? And what did you use as host for the paintbrush?

 

Many, many years ago, in my youth I used to get Swainsonia formosa to flower, I knew it as Clianthus formosa, which I think is the same plant.
I've tried since, but I' m not sure, as I was once sold some pretty dodgy seed which I spent a lot of time on, only to find it wasn't what I thought it was, but the plant looked similar.
Just found a picture, it is a scan from 1992, but for some reason it wont let me upload it.

For the paint brush, castilleja, I seem to remember using couch grass as a host, but I only managed to keep the plants for a couple of years, in pots.

 

Just a thought, but have you tried just mixing bonfire ash with the compost, I have a jar which I saved from my last bonfire, the really white kind from burnt wood.