What's Looking Exotic in October 2012

Strongy - I don't know whether to say I am pleased or not. Perhaps relieved would be a better word - relieved that it wasn't just me.

 

I have just started to lift some of the tender plants including


Geranium maderense. It keeps getting bigger every year. Its now in about its fourth year but still no sign of flowering. Never mind - I love the foliage.


This is my giant Dandelion - Sonchus congestus, also from Madeira. Its really enjoyed its summer vacation in the border and more than doubled in size - but still has a lot of growing to do.

 

Sal - loving your Thalia!

Nothing new here, but honourable mentions must go to;

Clerodendrum ugandense - still blooming outdoors, and the colour is so much richer now. The foliage is looking a little sad though.

Alstromeria psittacina is putting out new flower stems.................


Grevillea juniperina....................




Despite a couple of near frosts, Impatiens niamniamensis is astonishing!


And my favourite of the year, Bomarea hirtella.................

 

That is some Geranium Peter!!

 

Cleome, Nicotiana sylvestris (it gets quite big, doesn't it?!!), and Hedychium Gardnerianum at the back, Supporting cast of Aeonium, Cannas, Brugs, Musa
sikkimensis at the back and something variegated that I don't remember thinking was very big!

I'm very chuffed how quickly this has grown - this is its first year, and it wasn't planted until June


Hedychium Gardnerianum. Lovely scent. Wasn't sure it would flower in the garden, but may have benefited from being in conservatory in the Spring, and I plan to pot it and bring it in, and then plunge-pot in future years.

 

Should be more widely seen in my opinion.

The Hedychium looks superb too!

 

The only Bougie I can keep long term is this one



It does nothing most of the summer but starts to flower late Aug until it gets too cold, the recent rain does not appear to stop it flowering, it seems to enjoy it.

 

I also am growing it in the ground outside with winter protection, its not flowering well but growth is strong.

 

Pete - do Bougies flower late? Last year I bought a very small one on 1st June and it was already in flower and continued to flower for most of the year. This year it only started to flower a month or less ago.

I appreciate that the small plant I bought last year had spent all its time in a heated greenhouse in Holland - possibly under lights. But if that is what made it flower early, would repeating the early heat process make it flower early again?

 

I'm not sure Peter, maybe Victoria, or someone else who lives where it can be grown naturally could chip in here.
My own thoughts are that any new plants you buy are likely to be "forced" and need to settle into a proper flowering regime which could take 12months.

I'm thinking they probably flower when moisture is most available, not that simple here, as when its wet, it too cold to grow, as is the case with a lot of Med type plants.

Mine, has in the last three years, only made good growth and flowers in late summer autumn.

 

Thanks Pete. I suspect the answer is that if you are also prepared to "force" the plant you can get it to flower at almost any time you want. But as we don't have the facilities and the money, so we have to let natural sunshine do the work. But I suspect that if you put your plant on a heat pad it would flower earlier.

 

Iochroma cyanea is blooming really well again!

 

Brilliant LongK - mine have all been put to bed now. I think Iochroma are pretty cold tolerant - not frost, just cold.

 

This one certainly, but I'm rather inspired by Petes I.australis. My project for next year is to try to emulate that! The shed in the background is almost fully insulated now and will be their winter home.

 

I'm glad I've inspired someone