What's looking exotic in 2019

Like my Vallottas Strongylodon. In flower for about a fortnight but I wouldn't be without them.

 

My Billbergias nutans bloom for quite a long time, maybe because they are outdoors? Same with my Vallotas when I had them, new ones too young to bloom.

 

Some pictures.. first one bountiful amount of Canna brasiliensis seed.

2nd. The Canna brasiliensis

3rd. Acca sellowiana starting the fruiting process

4th. Lavatera cashmeiriana

5th. Brugmansia sanguinea (with a self sown Canna brasiliensis growing under it)

6th. self sown Cuphea cyanea just started flowering in first season.

 

Lagerstroemia grown as street trees and hedges all around the towns in the Dordogne far out numbering Oleander.

 

My Lagerstroemia are the latest I have ever known them, only started to open flowers a couple of weeks ago, that's at least a month to 6 weeks late for me.

Hedychiums are the same, very poor this year.


I can only blame the cold spring weather.

 

Better late than never, though, pete You won't have a chance to get bored with them

 

No I wont get bored, because this late most of the flower buds just wont open, not enough warmth and sunshine.

 

I'll send you some 35C and wall-to-wall sun I want some rain...lots of rain!

 

@noisette47 that's hotter than where we were last week!

My Calliandra is late flowering too, only just opened in the last few days and they don't last long.

 

It does get noticeably hotter and drier as you go south into the Gers The cracks in the ground are getting a bit scary this year Is Calliandra related to Albizzia, Strongy? Similar leaves and flowers.....

 

Our brug is having a second flowering of the year. Plenty of flowers but not as striking as the earlier flowers

 

@noisette47 it is related but in the Caesalpinia family as they are all legumes..
It isn't hardy here so it goes in the greenhouse for the winter.

 

Even in Dorset? Even given current mild winters?

 

A mild winter may be but quite often I get -7c here as I am in a frost pocket being on sand.