What's Looking Good in December 2023

Parrotia still holding onto its autumn foliage

 

Nice view of the hills. @Perki

 

If you have any cyclamen, just give them the chance to seed and they will spread beautifully. I bought a small Acer griseum which had a single cyclamen coum in the pot. Within a few years it was surrounded and looked wonderful.

 

@Perki is that parrotia in your front garden? How big is it likely to get? I'm looking for things that reliably give autumn colour, as here in wet Carmarthenshire most trees end up just sludge brown

 

Got some nice weather here today for a change and seeing your comment about the parrotia I checked on the tree I have as I walked about the garden and I'm afraid this year it has leaves that have turned a less impressive brown like lots of other tree types. It is usually much better for the Autumn coulour but for some reason it has not put on as good a display this year. Much better autumn coulours on small trees this year from a cotoneaster that self seeds that I don't know the variety of that has gone a nice bright red coulour on its dropping leaves and a Fuji cherry variety Kojo no Mai which when it still had leaves showed very nice colour as it usually does. I think the parrotia is maybe the best for Autumn colour most years and does not get very big with mine that is growing here now for about 9years still only about 4metres in height but it does get a lot of competition where it is planted.

Happy gardening!

 

Yes its Parrotia Persian Spire its a more upright growing specimen topping out around 3-4metres supposedly. Its a good small tree all year round purple foliage spring , variegated purple green foliage in summer , autumn foliage and chance of witch hazel like flowers in winter . Its been a bad year for autumn foliage on most trees here but the Parrotia been ok and Acers

 

One of my rare seed successes, Cobea buds finally opening ...

 

@Victoria I've struggled with Cobea in recent years, I find they like a lot of water to do well and my reduced watering doesn't go down well with them.

 

I did well with it many years ago when I got it to cover the old lean to, now Jungle Room. Even had fruit on it. But really struggled with this one which has taken all year to get this far.

Here is the other in 06 and 07 ...

 

They are quite rampant once they get going and tend to smother anything in their way.
Good plants if you have the space but they disappear over here for most of the year.

 

A self-seeded Lantana ...


Red Red Hibiscus in the ground ...


Hibiscus rosa-sinensis Pagoda Red ...

 

The Avocado looks great in the sun. Maybe we will get fruit next year ...


Coleus and Hibiscus rosa-sinensis Red which has at least eight buds ...




Several of the other Hibiscus in pots have buds.

 

He we are with all the hatches battened down because of the approaching storm & you out there in the warm sunshine!

Have a lovely Christmas!
.

 

@Balc It is why we moved down here. I wouldn't be able to cope with the British weather any more (SAD). Already now it is blue skies and sunshine as it will be for Christmas. At 75 I don't care if we don't have a White Christmas ... the warm sun suits me fine.

Wishing you and your family ...
Vicky xx

 

Have a lovely Christmas @Balc