Great to see these beautiful cannas radiating a fabulous glow in Russell Square on this warm 1st September day in London. Cannas grown in the UK are are normally at their best at this time of year and can provide a truly exotic look in one season as they grow very fast if fed and watered well.They do need consistent full sun to fully develop […]
Continue reading...10. April 2008
Comments Off on Cape Fuchsia, Cape Figwort
Latin name: Phygelius aequalis ‘Yellow Trumpet’ Description: Phygelius are becoming ever more popular because of their long flowering period and the abundance of flowers that they bear. They grow into a fairly compact bush with twiggy branches with oval, pointed deep to pale green leaves. The inflorescences are held above the foliage and drip from […]
Continue reading...10. April 2008
Comments Off on Cast Iron Plant
Latin name: Aspidistra elatior Description: Aspidistras are emblematic of the English Victorian period, as plants for the house and very tough ones at that, withstanding dark areas in hallways and rooms, tacking low light levels and neglect in their stride. The good news is – they are in fact hardy and can be released into […]
Continue reading...10. April 2008
Comments Off on Castor Oil Plant, Castor Bean Plant
Latin name: Ricinus communis ‘Carmencita’ Description: Very easy and essential exotic annual. Branching shrub that can grow to staggering proportions in one season. Sown in April it will reach 2m by late summer with large Fatsia-like, dark bronze-purple leaves 30cm and more wide. From summer to autumn produces clusters of small flowers followed by spikes […]
Continue reading...29. October 2011
Comments Off on Clocks back ready for brrrr winter
We might get an extra hour in bed tonight but it will be getting darker earlier tomorrow and possibly much, much colder. Weather forecasters are warning that the UK may suffer from the coldest Winter in decades. Here are some suggestions from the RHS on how to prepare your garden for the next few dark and frosty months.: […]
Continue reading...21. October 2011
Comments Off on Confused plants and seasons
Took this photo in Russell Square in central London today which clearly shows the confused seasons. The summer geraniums are still flowering beautifully whilst the leaves are turning a lovely Autumn colour . If you want to catch some gorgeous late flowering Exotic plants visit Will Giles garden in Norwich this Sunday 23rd October for his final 2011 open day […]
Continue reading...10. April 2008
Comments Off on Dahlia
Latin name: Dahlia Description: Although often considered as old hat, many never-the-lesses make great exotic garden plants because of their exuberance in flower, colour, and shape – but also for the dark almost black leaved forms that are now readily available. These garden delights were much vaunted by the late Christopher Lloyd, especially ‘Ellen Houston’ […]
Continue reading...10. April 2008
Comments Off on Day Lily
Latin name: Hemerocallis Description: The ever-popular Day lilies are a must for the flower garden. Hemerocallis are ideal in the herbaceous border; the shorter stemmed varieties which are becoming more popular are also excellent grown around patios or used as edging. Mass planting gives a strong show of colour. They all have green, narrow, strap-like, […]
Continue reading...26. May 2013
Comments Off on Dreaming of an Exotic Summer
UK weather warming up at last with blue skies that have certainly lifted gardening spirits. Wonderful sunny days make me dream of architectural plants and exotic horticultural delights. Every night I float to a beautiful exotic garden, the weather is glorious and the plants even more so. A handsome man wearing a colorful shirt guides […]
Continue reading...15. May 2011
If your garden is suffering from a lack of rain then maybe now is the time to re-think your planting? Oleanders have to be my first drought plant choice as they are also evergreen which means they deliver impact throughout the year.These low maintenance Mediterranean plants have delicate flowers in shades of deep red to […]
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1. September 2011
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