WHAT'S LOOKING EXOTIC IN 2017

A few bits from a wander this morning.
Passion flowers are coming on,

 

As always the master of understatement! "Passion flowers are coming on" when your outdoors BoP is in bloom!!!!
Does your Caiophora set seed?

 

Looking good, how many Albizias have you there @pete ?

 

To be honest I've never looked.

Why do you want some, back, I call it "Longk' s stinging nettle".

 

Hi Strongy, The one on the left has taken up until now to actually start into growth, it's about 30 yrs old, so I wondering if it is on its last legs.
There is one in the middle and the one on the right is, believe it or not, from that seed you sent me that was supposed to be "summer chocolate", it was only dark coloured for the first year or so, it's now green as you can see.

 

@pete - is the last but 1 photo a nicotiana? And do you seriously keep BoP outside, like your protea cynaroides?

 

Embarassing as it is, if it does knock some seed out that would be great!

 

Thanks Pete you have confirmed one thing for me. LongK very kindly sent me some seed of that Caiophora. I am afraid that it didn't get to flower, but I had the distinct impression that it stung.

I can't get over you magnificent Strelitzias growing outside. The blue Passion Flower is fairly common outside even here in Yorkshire, but I love your red ones - those you don't see.

 

Hi Caroline, yes I have BOP, Protea and Bougainvillea growing in a border close to the house and next to the conservatory, I cheat, as I protect from frost each year.
A bit of a pain but I think it's worth it.

Yes the last pic is tobacco, shhh.

 

Tell you what, I'll try some cuttings this year, not sure if it will grow from cuttings.
If I get some to go then I'll mail you one, if not I'll look for seed at the end of the season.

 

One pot @shiney
Yes, I had one flower but since then not much, I repotted it today, so not sure what to expect, is it only spring flowering or does it go on all summer.

 

I still can't believe it - I thought Kent had some cold winters. Though it shows that those plants are a bit tougher than we give them credit for.


A view of my banana plantation. Musa basjoo on the left and the others are E Maurelli


Mandevilla


Hibiscus keeps on flowering at intervals.


Hoya bella. I think bella is the species name - but it sounds much more like a cultivar name - does anyone know? Its a difficult one to photograph as the flowers all hang down and can only really be seen from below.


Amorphophallus nepaulensis. Apparently it first flowers from a bare bulb - with a bad smell. Then afterwards grows the leaves. This is its second year for me, and it hasn't flowered yet - next year maybe?


A general view of my sun room. My humidifier is working fine now. I went in this afternoon and the temperature was 35C with 75% humidity. My glasses instantly steamed over. Lovely! but I am going to have to advise my visitors to wear a bathing costume.

 

@pete, strange I still have one Albizia from that same batch and it too turned green after the second year, mine is a stunted specimen 'growing' in shade on dry sand. The summers are not warm or sunny enough for them to grow to a decent size here.

 

@PeterS
Hoya bella GPS 10236
Along with Hoya carnosa this is probably the best-known of the hoyas. It is a species that comes from the mountains of Burma and hence prefers cooler conditions than most other hoyas. It does well in houses without central heating. It is a slow grower but flowers well.
The information came from Paul Shirley Succulents Has a large collection of Hoya on offer, I'm waiting for them to get some Stapeliads in.