What's looking Exotic in 2023

I never managed to get colocasias through the RSM.
Let alone reach winter, but not tried them for a few years, if you have a tuber by October I suggest you use it in a stir fry.

 

I kind of like the Pandorea it's got a nicer flower than my Podranea, does it have the same growth habit @noisette47 .

 

Although they are very easy to buy nowadays Orchids still retain an air of exoctism - so here are a couple of mine:
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No...it was a titchy little tuber from Farmer Gracy this year. Really didn't expect it to survive. The one it was supposed to replace, which is in a basket in one of the ponds, decided to survive as well, but it's a lot smaller

 

Much nicer! I grew Podranea from seed and then decided I don't like the colour at all, by which time it had rooted and layered itself firmly in the bed by the pool. It gets pretty savage treatment in the hopes that it'll take the hint The Pandorea is a minor miracle and one of the very few plants I protect in winter on it's sheltered wall, again by the pool. Nothing like as woody or vigorous as Podranea. I also have an embarrassingly large plain-leaved Pandorea in a big pot which is going to have to get planted somewhere, if I can muster the strength to dig a big enough hole. I reckon the plain green one will be a bit hardier, but have done cuttings just in case.

 

Oh Ok, it would have to be in a pot here as Podranea doesn't survive outside, so I suspect Pandorea wouldn't survive either, probably better I stick with the more vigorous of the two.

 

My original colocasia (not Black Magic) seems pretty hardy in a bed of improved claggy clay, but you wouldn't say it's got good drainage! It sends out lateral runners and has colonised about a square metre. It's only protection is it's own leaves and those of the nearby canna bent over the roots in winter. I do have far more success with all bulbs and tubers left in the ground over winter, though, even with temps of -8C to -12C. Perhaps because hard frosts are brief?

 

It's a shame, though, when the Pandorea flowers are so much prettier. Give the plain-leaved one a go....

 

I've got a couple of seed raised Tecoma stans coming along, it says minus 5c who knows.

 

Anything's worth a shot What about Campsis/Bignonia capreolata?

 

I think Podranea is prettier and sturdier than Pandorea. The latter is scented however.

 

I've got Campsis radicans coming up all over the garden, I keep giving it a shot of glyphosate but its not taking much notice, I got rid of my big one on the house wall when it started coming up out the drains.

The Bignonia sounds good but looks to be tender.