What's Looking Exotic In September 2013

Nice collection Kristen, pity our exotic stuff all comes good, just as we start looking toward Autumn.

Lagerstroemia indica.

E, "maurellii and Basjoo.
I think I might be trying the dry overwintering on the Maurelii this winter.


Not probably visible, but in the background the Yucca aloifolia has a couple of flowers coming, it must be the heat, as it dont flower very often.

 

My overwintering hinges on whether the conservatory rebuild is finished before first frost ... or not!

 

First flower on my Duranta erecta.....................


I should have had very full panicles of flowers, but the recent cool nights have caused the buds to blast. I bought it indoors a few days ago and it should look good in a couple of weeks judging by the number of buds emerging now!

 

I would love to show my Plumeria but it hasn't even produced a new leaf this year, it is trying but too late now. It suffered some cold winter nights in the greenhouse with the erratic heater I had (binned) and may have affected its growth.

Pete, does the Lagerstroemia over winter inside? I am tempted try them again.

 

Pity about the Plumeria Clive, one of mine has grown away but got scorched back in july and take an age to recover.
I know they can be difficult to get back into growth if they are dried right off.

I bought some seed from Thailand back in the early spring, I have one nice looking plant coming along, it has a different appearance/leaf colour to the ones I have grown in the past, without much flowering success, so I'm hoping for flowers from this one, eventually.

I find Lagerstroemia quite hardy, its over 10ft tall now, but flowering can be very late/poor, in cool wet years, it needs a lot of sun and heat to do well.

Would be better on South or West wall.

I used to be able to strike cuttings, but for some reason I seem to have lost the knack.

 

I have two Plumerias (both from Madeira) one grew to 4ft last year and flowered in September. I decided it was too tall as it hadn't branched so I cut it down to 2ft last November, it looks the same now as it did then. The one that is trying to grow now is the one that had a flower bud when I brought it home but has three branches, I think I'll over winter it indoors.

It probably isn't sunny enough here for Lagerstroemia outside but I'll give it a go. I grew dwarf ones a long time ago but might just try the normal Indica.
The ones in Madeira were stunning.

 

The Lagerstroemia in my picture was origially a strain called "little Chief" or some such name.
Its taken many years to reach the size it is now, but it flowered from its second year as I remember.
More recent ones, L. indica, I have, are now three years old, but no flowers as yet.

 

The 'dwarf' Lager I grew was Little Chief and only reached 3ft in three/four years, that's why I thought it was a dwarf strain.

 

But was that in a pot?
Mine is over 15yrs old, probably nearer 20.
I think there is a lot of variation when growing them from seed, some are much more vigorous than others

 

In a pot, I wouldn't have even thought of planting it 20 years ago. Might be different now.

 

They are winter hardy Strongy, especially down your way.
If you have a hot spot, go for it.

 

My Stapelia variegata today. It's a most beautiful flower with the most revolting (dead animal) smell. Only one out, another to join it in a couple of day's time and more budlets appearing...
.






And this is what happens when a seed pods bursts! My plant came from a friend's and she came into the conservatory and these were all floating around in the air.


If anyone wants any, just PM me and I'll pop some in the post,
Jenny

 

@Jenny namaste - the Stapelia looks fantastic!

Dietes iridioides started producing this flower stem back in the warm spell, then stopped when it cooled down. I had given up on it until the weekend when it started to move again. Worth the wait.....................






Bessera elegans contiues to please......................


And finally, another Toad Lily - this one is "Harlequin" which has some of the smaller flowers of my Tricyrtis collection.....................

 

Another great collection Keith..
Jenny

 

Thanks Jenny!