What's Looking Exotic In September 2013

Things are starting to look a bit ragged now, its amazing how one week of cooler weather with rain can put the mockers on the plants that like sunshine, but a few are still going.0

Aralia elata ,


Arundo donax,

Ricinus, "Impala",


Yucca aloifolia,

 

Really pleased with this Brugmansia - the most floriferous that I have had this year:


and this one has really large flowers:



Amelanchier. Two years old, I will stool it annually, starting next Spring

Pleased with this Tetrapanax papyrifer 'rex' too. I bought a "special one" a few years ago, but this one, given to me last year and planted out for first time this year, has much more divided lobes:


and the Gunnera by the pond. Dunno how big the leaves will get as it is planted in the margin, and there is not much soil available to it:

 

And some views of the "Jungle":




Arundo donax (varietgata in foreground, and a few spears of the plain green one behind) rather disappointing. Second year; next year I'm going to give it a lot more water. The plain green one is plenty tall enough just very few spears. Ensete montbeliardii standing very erect.

the recent rain has weighted down the foliage, making it encroach on the paths more:

Leonotis Nepetifolia on the right, pretty sure it is "Beau Apricot" as the plain-named one I had before I think was more Red? Really pleased with how the Musa sikkimensis "paddle shaped" leaves have developed, much prefer them to Musa basjoo's skinnier leaves. nice and sheltered in this spot, so the leaves haven't shredded (yet!)



Ricinus "Giant Blue" on the left. Someone gave me one seed last year, which grew, and I just had to have some again this year



and looking back in the opposite direction:

Ensete maurelii more squat and a bit wider. Easier, height-wise, to overwinter.

 

Fantastic Kristen- such a great feel to that jungle walk I reckon.
I do hope you have an open garden sometime.
I know...
I can wait a couple of years...
Please, what is the plant, 4 th piccie down, on the bottom r/h side with long tubular pink flowers ? It's nice,
Jenny

 

Marvelous Kristen

 

Looking great Pete & Kristen
My Ricinus has been munched by the caterpillars this year.
Your bananas look particularly great Kristen, I agree about the paddle shaped leaves (moved mine into the greenhouse on Friday cos the wind was forecast)

 

You'd be welcome anytime ... perhaps we need to get a charabanc organised next year?

Leonotis Nepetifolia. Its more orange than pink. Its in photo 3 too

Here's some really rubbish photos, I'll get some better ones when sun is next out. Its very tall


Last year's - the plain named one.



"Beau Apricot" - definitely more Apricot in colour

 

Leonotis Nepetifolia , according to Google, is orangey.
The specimen to which I was referring..
is the one 2nd in from the bottom right. Sorry, I am not sufficiently IT'd to pencil around it. It looks like a Fuchsia Thalia shape flower and is definitely PINK not ORANGE,
Jenny

 

This chappie?



is Amaranthus

 

that's the one, unusual,
is it a hardy perennial?

 

Nope, annual I'm afraid.

I've grown quite a few this year, as a trial to see which I like.


Amaranthus Elephant Head


Amaranthus Fat Spike (not sure that one is properly labelled)


Amaranthus Foxtail

as well as the standard Amaranthus caudatus Red - but, unsurprisingly, that looks a bog standard Amaranthus and I'll give that a miss in future years.

I also grew Amaranthus Dreadlocks:
and Amaranthus Tower Red:

- need to take my own photo of them for comparison, and I might try Amaranthus Illumination:

& Tricolour:

next year

 

thanks Kristen,
I like the Foxtail one most.

 

Yeah, have to admit that most of the rest are A Boy Thing

 

Amarantus illumination another one for the seed list

 

I'd given up on this flowering this year, then the other morning I saw this.


Aristolochia elegans from Chilterns lottery mix last year.
Was thinking of getting shot of it, but maybe I might just hang on to it now.