WHAT'S LOOKING EXOTIC IN JUNE 2014

I seem to remember them being taller back then?

 

John have you got any epsom salts

 

LongK - I think I like Arisaema tortuosum best of all - it seems to be the tallest even though its not the biggest tuber.

I had a strange thing with my Iochroma this year - virtually no flowers on any of them. A few on australis but virtually none on cyanea or coccinea. Do they flower less as they grow older?


Cocos nucifer - coconut palm.

I went nuts yesterday and bought this in Homebase for £8. Not a bad price for a plant that's already 7 feet high in its small pot - but a totally stupid and impractical purchase. I was about to walk out empty handed until I remembered the first rule of gardening - "have fun and enjoy yourself". "Be sensible and practical", I think, comes way down the list in about 17th place.

I understand that its needs high temperatures, high light levels and high humidity, and is regarded as totally unsuitable as an inside plant. Not to mention that it is already almost touching the roof.

But it does look quite good.

 

£6 in B&Q..i bought one last month I couldnt resist either

 

Sometimes a little crass stoopidity is good! As you rightly say - it should always be fun!

How cool were they over the winter? My I.australis are either in the ground or in pots that were out for practically the whole winter.

 

I have always kept them just frost free previously - this time they were in my heated garden room at 10C. I did wonder if they needed to be cooler to set flower buds. Though there is no way that they would survive outside in Yorkshire.

 

I suspect that our winter lows are similar (the Cotswolds is surprisingly cold as it benefits little warmer air coming in from over the ocean). I would consider a haircut in early March before placing out a week or two later. @pete will have thoughts on this.

 

Eryngium agavifolium has minute flowers.......................


But well worth growing for the foliage..........................


Three downsides; a] those spines are sharp, b] the slimeys love it, and c] not good planted where lots of falling debris (flowering tea rose petals in my case) will collect in it and make it look scrappy.

 

Cant really help much on the Iochromas @PeterS , as I've only ever grown Australis and they have been outside from the first day I grew them.#
I believe, might be wrong, that most are from mountainous areas of the tropics/sub tropics, so probably like it cool for a while at least.

 

Sues Thunbergia gregorii....................


It sat in a pot against this wall all winter.

 

Geranium "Ann Folkard"

Geranium Wallichianium "Buxton's Blue", on its annual march across the garden path.


Jenny

 

I bought a bunch of Eucomis seed a couple of years ago, and now they are beginning to flower. This is a medium size, and soon the giant 4' ones will begin opening.

Eucomis pallididflora

 

Is pole-evansii an [even bigger ] cultivar of Eucomis pallididflora? or is it the same thing?

I have one, I think - maybe 2 or 3 - which I am looking forward to seeing in full-flow this year

Not fully hardy? or am I mis-remembering?

 

It's listed as a sub species of E.pallidiflora. It's a big 'un - a piccie from last year....................

I wouldn't be leaving it to the elements.

 

Thanks, I can see the pole that you attached the evansii to ...

... I'll grab my coat on the way out