WHAT'S LOOKING EXOTIC IN 2018

Amorpophallus nepalensis

Only got this earlier this year, yes it smells as bad as it's relatives.

 

I think we all know a relative like that

 

@JWK What I don't understand is here they bloom almost non-stop year round (admittedly moreso in our Autumn) and my summer night temps are usually higher than your day highs! :scratch: Here is a (poor) photo through sun and showers T'other half took on his phone in November past ...

 

Mine is growing leaves like crazy, but no flowers yet, but I had a 2ft cutting that I had kept in the green flower in May, I then potted it on, and it stopped flowering and is now growing leaves.

I take it that yours is established, growing in the ground @Victoria , which kind of added to a warmer climate makes it pretty much an all year round grower if watered?

Mine spends four months in the garage, bone dry, dark and below 10C, probably less than 5C during last March.

I dont think we can compare.
Ours will always be seasonal, but just shows how some plants can adapt to different conditions

 

Victoria what a beautiful plant and imagine it in red...it's a stunner to catch the eye

 

Echinopsis oxygona..............
Echinopsis oxygona by longk48, on Flickr

Echinopsis oxygona by longk48, on Flickr

Echinopsis oxygona by longk48, on Flickr

 

That's weird how it flowers mate

 

True @pete, we put it in the ground a couple of years ago surrounded by Hibiscus rosa sinensis. We have about 100 blooms at once ... the scent is overpowering! T'other half just put his Shrimp Plant (Justicia brandegeeana) in the ground nearby a week or so ago and he swears it has grown already as it had been in a pot for many, many years.

I agree, we really cannot compare.

 

Nigel - so nice to see your Amorphophallus nepalensis in flower, which I have never seen. Someone gave me a very small one about 3 years ago, which has not flowered for me yet. But I am hopeful.

General view of my sun room. The tender woody plants are slowly dying off because of the humidity. So I am left with mainly members of the ginger order, ie soft leaved lovers of humidity, such as Bananas, Cannas, Gingers etc. As well as Anthuriums and Bromeliads.


Clytostoma. The flowers are right at the back so you can't see the lovely dark pink throat. But it doesn't like my heat.


Curcuma alismatifolia (Siam Tulip). One of the less often seen members of the ginger order.


Heliconia psitticorum. This one pleases me. I bought it last year, having never seen it for sale before in the UK. It had obviously been flown in from Costa Rica or some such country in full flower. My question was - will it ever flower again in the UK, knowing that it needs a lot of sunlight. I think the answer is yes - a bud is forming.

 

Peter what a stunner this is mate...very nice

 

Wow! Looks fantastic

Surely it is time for a Tacca!

Congrats! I keep looking at Heliconia but I just cannot give them what they need.

Talking of the ginger family here's Roscoea purpurea 'Spice Island'............
Roscoea purpurea 'Spice Island' by longk48, on Flickr

It's an imposter on this thread as it is hardy but does look so exotic............
Roscoea purpurea 'Spice Island' by longk48, on Flickr

 

Thanks LongK. Yes I would love a Tacca. I have tried both this year and last year to grow one from a rhizome - but failed. And you just don't see Tacca plants around.

I do like your Roscoe - definitely exotic, even if hardy. When you start looking there are so many members of the ginger order/family, that you don't think of as being related to gingers.


I have just had a quick look and come up with many obscure names in the ginger family that I had never heard of. One such is Siamanthus (above). It certainly has a gingery look, but is very rare with only about 1000 specimens known. I doubt my local garden centre will have one.

 

I think that you could have a lot of fun just growing members of the ginger family!

Alstroemeria isabella "Fred Meyer" is another exotic looking hardy plant. Typical Alstroemeria growth habit but the flowers look like Bomarea...........
Alstroemeria isabella "Fred Meyer" by longk48, on Flickr

The downside is that after a days hot sun the colour bleaches out but it soon returns to normal after a night to cool down................
Alstroemeria isabella "Fred Meyer" by longk48, on Flickr