What's Looking Exotic in October 2012

I'm not sure its about heat Peter, day length maybe?
I'm sure we mess up a lot of subtropical shrubs with our long summer daylight.

Whatever, I'm sure moisture plays a part, not much flowers until moisture is available, and I'm surprised how much Bougies seem to need when not dormant.

 

Yes Pete. It is complicated. The sickening thing is that the Dutch growers have all the knowledge and are able to adjust heat, moisture and day length etc and all we can do is - just hope.

I never gave a thought to our longer day length - it must have an effect. This could be why something like Dahlia imperialis really starts to take off in October and won't flower till November. Its not the cold weather that does it. I wonder if I could grow it in a 30 foot tall light box ......

 

My Dahlias always seem to be fit-to-bust at this time of year. Can't seem to get them to cooperate earlier. No shortage of water this year, and it certainly hasn't been baking hot. We've had just a hint of frost on two nights, and now they are covered in bloom.

Good news PeterS is that you don't need to waste money on lights - you just need a 30' dark box, that you can close up at night (like growing Poinsettias)

 

Dahlias are definite short day flowerers, but as usual there are exceptions, the smaller they are the earlier they seem to flower.
The small bedding ones flower for most of the summer even when grown from seed.

Of course Chrysanths have got to come into this category as well.

 

I wonder how short? Fesible to get them to flowering stage with dark covering so that they then flower through the summer perhaps?

Whilst "bringing them on" in the Greenhouse, until at least June, it would be quite feasible to use blackouts to shorten their day.

Bit harder once they are planted out though

 

Missed this one! Yes It has been outside all summer, and will flower very well.. they actually love the cool, moist conditions. They don't like frost much, but they'll take some cold..

Below in a photo of one that used to be permanently planted out in wirral.

Here is the photo of THAT Tibouchina (the shrub with the blue flowers by the wall).. at the time, not knowing much about plants, I passed this off as, just another plant.. as at the time I didn't realise the significance of growing a Tibouchina outside permanently in the UK..

Oh yeh and don't forget the Melianthus major, and the Abutilon canary bird.. mind blowing! and to think I walked through the garden mentally blindfolded.. if I'd have known the significance of what was being grown there today (which more knowledge), I would have wet myself with excitement. Sadly this garden is no more, as it was sold off.

 

Thanks Stephen - I must try my Tibouchina outside over the summer. Mind you - I think you are quite a bit warmer so there is no question of leaving it outside over winter here.

 

Amazing to see a Tibouchina living outdoors!

Here is the second and final bloom on my P.alata for the year..................




Will be moved into the cool spare room for the winter.

Not strictly exotic as it survived last winter outdoors (in a sheltered spot) is Polygala myrtifolia..............


Some seem a little confused though..............


This will bloom right up to the first frosts (having started blooming mid May) and should be seen more.

 

Ginkgo biloba 'Mariken' with lovely autumn colour


Ginger leaves still look exotic



Bamboos etc

 

Just another E. "murelii"


Hoping for a mild winter for this Echium.


Peter S, Leonotis, much later this year than last.


This one's for Victoria, grown from her "newbiscus" seed.


Adeniums have been flowering for 7 months now.

 

LongK - I would classify Polygala myrtifolia as exotic - you surprise me keeping one outside over winter. I couldn't even keep the one plant I bought overwinter inside. I also had two lots of seed that never germinated - so its not my most successful plant.

Gaz - you gingers look really good. Mine have now bulked up and have lots of foliage, but have not flowered yet. Can you leave them outside until the frost kills the foliage, or do you need to lift them beforehand?

Pete - E. "Murelli" really is a superb looking plant. And your Echium looks fantastic, its very tall. Mine tend not to get that high until they start to put out their flower spike. My Leonotis is also very late - with no sign of any seed yet, but all my plants have reached about 8 feet. Last year I sowed some seeds early and they also reached 8 feet, but I also sowed some seed late and they never reached more than about 2 feet.

 

First year I've grown them and they have done well, but I'd be interested to know when you sow (that you refer to as "early") so I can note it in my seed-sowing schedule. Thanks

 

Pete - did you grow your adenuim from seed?

 

Yes I did, about 5 yrs ago now, might be more.
Must admit, from about ten plants I only have three left.
The others dropped by the wayside as poor flowerers.

 

Some stunning plants there Pete; some nice looking gingers in the background there too, behind the Ensete Banana

And that Echium is stunning, is it in the ground or is there a pot hiding down there?