WHAT'S LOOKING EXOTIC IN 2017

Like the Hardenbergia especially @PeterS .

 

Clerodendrum ugandense has just started to flower again in the conservatory after a three month rest.

 

Lovely Strongy.

There are some very fine Clerodendrums around. I think we had a number of different species shown in a thread some time ago.

Just today, I noticed that my Clerodendrum thomsonae had started to sprout. I have tried several times. They lose all their leaves over the winter and look dead. Mostly they were dead. But they can also re sprout, as mine has done now.

Justicia rizzinii is starting to lose its flowers, but looking back at an earlier post in January has made me realise that it's been in flower for at least 10 weeks.

 

I forgot to add this picture of Jasminum polyanthum. Its a shame I can't include the powerful fragrance.

 

In full bloom they are quite a delight

That reminds me - I was at OBG the other day and The Orangery was heady with the scent of Trachelospermum jasminoides and all the various citrus in bloom! And those Geranium maderense were in bloom again from the same growth as last year.

Here, my Pleione are in bloom.................
Pleione by longk48, on Flickr

They were outdoors all winter in a spot that has overhead protection. Kept dry like this they easily handled the regular minus 5 or 6°c that the garden saw.

This is a bit of a cheat really but here's Sinningia speciosa (commonly sold as Gloxinia)............
Sinningia speciosa by longk48, on Flickr

Kept in the cool bedroom over the winter it never really died back totally and it was moved into the south facing porch a few weeks ago when it started growing again. Although I have moved it outdoors it stays in the greenhouse when it is going to be rainy or too cool.

 

I think it's pretty exotic @shiney

 

It certainly dwarfs mine!!!!!

 

What is this called please. I have one in the garden and the Bees love it. Mine is damaged, possibly wind and it only has one trunk now, but still flowers profusely.

 

Thank you. The damaged wood has died, no sign of any regrowth. It looks top heavy now and is leaning more than last year. Also some movement in the ground, rocks.