WHAT'S LOOKING EXOTIC IN 2018

Amorphophallus konjac

Bit of an experiment, last back end I had a spare tuber so I stuck it in the ground under the front window. Didn't expect to see it again especially after the cold snaps early in the year and then towards the end of July up it pops.

 

Cor Nigel, Isn`t that the Voodoo Lily? Is it one that stinks as it flowers?

 

@Tetters Yes it stinks when it flowers. The ones in the greenhouse are about twice the height and will hopefully flower next spring. The one above I expect will gradually fade away over the next coiuple of years, due to the short growing season it will get.

 

I left Konjac out in a pot on the allotment all last winter, its been in leaf for a couple of months now.
I think it's probably pretty hardy if well drained, but I'm not sure it likes dry conditions in the summer.

 

How in heavens name can you cope with the stink when you grow this kind of plant?

I grew Persicaria polymorpha this year, but the looks of it was spoilt by the smell - like an unkempt urinal it was. I shall dig it out tout suite!

 

Tree ferns a plenty down here.....not in my garden (always wanted to, meant to but overlooked).....but I have planted one or two. One is in view of St. Michael's Mount so not far from the sea but thrives as do many in similar situations. Prob the cooling, damping effect of the sea
Yes, hot and dry is not a great mixture.
You have to do all you can to keep it JWK.....clearly it survived last winter so chances are it will do so this year.

 

Dont ask tout suite Tetters. What does he/she know?
I love the plant, even the smell is ok for me. It produces loads of frothy flowers all summer!!!???

 

Now that`s a good handle, ''Tout suite Tetters'' didn`t they write a song?..... maybe your nose doesn`t work properly Verdun, perhaps you should mention it to your doctor ..oh yeah, and I`m a girl...it says so between messages and location

 

Did you mean Hedychium John?
They are great - and I would love to grow some here. Do you have problems keeping them frost free? Do they have to go inside in the winter?

 

If I can jump in, I find H. densiflorum to be one of the hardiest, Assam Orange is the usual variety grown, but my seed grown ones are very similar.
Never had any problems with them in dry shade, until this year.

Just too dry I guess, so mine have not flowered, in fact H. "tara" is flowering very late this year after being left in pots all winter on the allotment.
H.gardnerianum is just budding up, but I dont think the flowering will be great, too hot and dry for most of the time, the rains have come far too late to be of any use.

 

The scent is very short lived.
The whole point is that you/we actually get them to flower - if it's easy there's no point!

 

So, do you leave them in the ground over winter?

 

I agree, up to a point, which is why over the years I've often moved on, when it becomes easy, but there will always be certain plants I still like.
My reasons for leaving Konjac out in a pot last winter was to finish it off really, I wanted to cut down, and the bloody thing grew again this year.