What's looking exotic in 2019

My apologies - I have been away for a while, tied up with other things.


The humidifier in my sun room wasn't working too well. It sprayed water through a small nozzle that tended to get blocked. So I have replaced it with a "fogger" shown above. This uses ultrasonics to produce a much finer mist. So far it seems to be working well.


I went to the Harrogate Autumn Flower Show a few days ago and saw this beautiful display.
Any ideas what these are? I can see Anthuriums and Heliconia. And are the pink and red flowers Alpinias?


At the same show, I was lucky enough to see two Spiral Gingers. Costus barbatus on the right, and Costus dinklagei on the left. It was most unusual to see them, as I don't think I have ever seen anyone in the UK selling them before. They are both members of the Ginger family and so should enjoy the heat and humidity. I knew the name Spiral Ginger, which I always thought related to the flowers, but you can see the stems spiralling as well.


This is the flower of Costus barbatus - quite extraordinary.


And this is the flower of Costus dinklagei.


My other purchase was Curcuma alismatifolia - another member of the Ginger family. They rot very easily over winter. However I have managed to get one to come back into growth this year, but it hasn't flowered.

 

Must admit. Never grown it but have prescribed it as a homeopathic remedy.

 

Peters. Thank you so much for your input. To me, this raises the question. How many of GC's members have a go at growing something, exoctic?

 

When I was growing up exotic was what you saw on foreign holidays, bouganvillea, pelargoniums etc, now I'm not sure is it plants with "exotic" flowers such as eucomis, hedychiums and such or is it plants that require special conditions such as year round warmth or high humidities.
Any ideas?

 

I think we, us lot, all have our own ideas as to what is exotic, I tend to grow mostly what I term sub tropical, ie. half hardy, tender stuff that needs some protection in winter or survives only the mildest winters.
I think the true definition might be a bit different.

@PeterS has, IMO, taken it all to a higher level and is growing some pretty spectacular stuff.

 

I guess that for me exotic tends to be something not ideally suited to the UK climate or that is not commonly seen and needs a little extra effort.
I've grown many exotics over the years and try to keep them going for two or three years before passing them on through the local garden club/plant sales.

 

To me, exotic means things that require better conditions eg heat, humidity than I can normally give them! However where does that put things like rosulate violas, eritrichium nanum etc which are very difficult because they grow in peculiarly hard conditions? Or even a particular interest of mine (purely academic, because so far I have been unable to get seed) - the brightly flowering mistletoes that live in Australia, South Africa etc?

 

Brug.

Nearly 3 mts. High ,not so many flowers.

 

I've got one similar @roders , first year cutting, all leaf and only just started flowering.

 

Is that a Ginger in the front? Very nice whatever. I don't have any. I remove the lower leaves off the Brug ... gives more energy to flowering.

 

The first blooms of autumn on one of my Plectranthus 'Mona Lavender'..............
Plectranthus 'Mona Lavender' by longk48, on Flickr

Plectranthus 'Mona Lavender' by longk48, on Flickr

 

Still nothing happening on mine outside @longk .
Great big plant masses of foliage, wont be able to bring it in, no signs of flowers.

 

Looks more like a Canna, Victoria

 

Good to see you back @PeterS, the other flowers might be Alpinia and Leucadendron (pin cushion flower).
Have you still got your Megaspekasma? I am not sure if you saw this one I put up after our Oz trip at the entrance to Sydney Botanical Gardens, it was huge.

 

Great photos.

I was just wondering, when I posed the question. I don't even attempt growing anything so spectacular. In my case it comes down to, space, enviroment and personal health.
Well done to all who manage such beauties.