What's looking Exotic in 2020

Leaves don't look right for a Washy.

 

First of the very short lived flowers on the Caliandra surinamensis, in a pot but outside since late April.

 

Hope you brought it in before the Typhoon hit.

 

But it does seem to have plenty of buds @strongylodon ! How low temp can it survive? I would suggest beaufortia if you like those fluffy flowers - mine seems to have flowered in 2 flushes this year, and they last quite well.

 

I am not sure what lows it could take @CarolineL as I over winter it in the greenhouse with a min of 3/4c. It may take a light frost and defoliate but I will not risk it.

As for fluffy flowers, if they ever do flower, I have some small plants coming on from seeds bought in Sydney of Kunzea, Calothalmus, Hakea along with two varieties of Melaleuca.

No @pete it happened so quickly I didn't have time!!

 

My tara is late this year and for a number of reasons my gardnerianum are going to be pretty poor this year.
Best I can do at the moment is densiflorum.

 

The only Hedychium I have is coccineum (Raffillii) but it hasn't flowered in 5 years, just grows stems to about 4 feet high, a real disappointment.

 

Hi @JWK does Tara have a scent please? I have a gardnerium about to flower but I cheated as it is in the glasshouse. The ones out in the border haven't grown enough to flower.

 

Never noticed a scent to my Tara @CarolineL

 

Thanks @pete and @JWK. Do you know whether any of the other hardier hedychiums are scented. Is 'Stephen'? Nurseries quote it as 'delicately scented' - hmm

 

Not grown that many @CarolineL , am I right in thinking "stephen" has a bit of gardnerianum in it?
If so, it could be.
Big problem I have found with some that I have tried is they flower far too late, october and later when the weather is bad.
Gardnerianum has always been hardy with me for 25yrs plus.

 

Would you adam and eve it, the Brachychiton has actually set seed,

 

I grow H. coronarium for it's scent. The flower spikes are short and stubby, white with yellow throat, not very glamorous but hardy and vigorous. Can send you some if you want to try it...