Viewing comments posted by bonitin

I had sown mine on 28th November, soaked for 24 hours in warm water after pinching a hole into the seed with a needle, then planted and kept at room temperature for about three weeks, then put in the fridge (not the freezer!) for two weeks, and nearly all the seeds had germinated on 4th January= 37 days! It took a while, though, before the first leaves emerged above soil level. They were put back at room temperature and the first sprouts appeared on 30th January.

I had sown a second batch but kept those at room temperature and the seeds didn't germinate at the time the first batch had germinated in the fridge. So I ended up also giving them a cold treatment of about two weeks in the fridge and they also did germinate, two weeks later than the first batch.

Unlike Quercus robur, the leaves of Quercus petraea stay much longer on the tree.

The original cultivar name is Penstemon 'Andenken an Friedrich Hahn', that has been adapted by English speaking nurseries into Penstemon Garnet.

The wild species grow much taller than the commercially sold ones,
This one grew nearly 3 ft (90cm) tall!!

This plant is not for neat gardens: Its growing habit is a bit messy at times as the stems go out in all directions, not standing firmly. It is possible to stake them, however.
But the flowers are truly gorgeous and the bees are very fond of them! :)

I have some in pots and one in the full ground. It proved to be hardy in my zone, withstood hard frost down to -12C for an extended period, and when it came back in spring with full vigor, it had doubled in size!
The ones I left in their pots outside didn't make it, though, probably because the wet and the frost have done them in.
They are very easy to propagate through cuttings.
Some of them in pots were in full shade and kept blooming very well, when planted in good soil with lots of organic material, they are drought resistant too.
It can have morning or evening sun, but avoid exposing it to hot midday sun.

Interesting and attractive plant for shady areas, mine gets very little sun but still blooms, it proved to be drought tolerant and can be used where the soil gets very dry in the growing season because of tree root concurrence.
We had some very hard frosts last winter for a long period, but it came back in spring unharmed.
Slow but steady grower.

I love this little humble plant. It makes a lovely low ground cover in soil that never dries out, and it spreads well once established, but it never hinders other plants.
I've seen it in the wild in deciduous old forests, carpeting the banks along peaceful forest brooks, blooming early in spring with its tiny yellow-green flowers, before the Beeches and Oaks have unfolded their new leaves.
Thrives as well in half to full shade.
I have it growing besides my pond on the borders, which are mainly in shade.
It must love it there as I have the plant for nearly 20 years!

This is an amazing plant. When I bought it the flowers were bicolor: red and white. The same plant later on produced entirely white flowers, and now the first blooms in late May-June are entirely red. It proved to be very tough too, having gone through a very severe winter with long periods of hard frosts without damage. It is very drought resistant too.

This impressive beauty comes back loyally in spring in my garden in zone 8a, planted in half shade in a well drained soil, and has doubled in size in 3 years time. It is a very vigorous healthy plant.

Forms large colonies on very wet soil or shallow waters like at river- and lake sides, ponds etc..
Tubers are edible raw or cooked.

This is a dwarf Rhododendron that unlike most of its family members performs best in full sun.

Introduced before 1888. Division 5. Selection made by Peter Barr from wild material, collected in Spain, from Narcissus x taitii, former known as Narcissus x johnsonii.

I used to buy them on the flower market, but they never lasted long, became prone to illness and faded away after just a month.
Last year, I decided to try them from seed, so glad I did. The plants grew vigorously and healthy, blooming non-stop and generously, being a valuable source of food for bees, butterflies etc.. we're having an exceptional soft winter so far, and to my astonishment the plant though looking very tatty, still hasn't given up the spirit and that in the end of January!!
I grow them in a big container in a sunny spot on a large balcony, as my garden is too shady for them.

This beautiful tree was very tall around 7-8m.
It could possibly be Senna angulata var.miscadena.
Thanks to JRsbugs for the research and finding its ID.

I got this interesting info from Leland Miyano who identified the plant.

That is Philodendron subgenus Philodendron melinonii. Normally it grows high in trees in the Amazonian region of Brasil and adjacent countries. The plants form rosettes about 6 feet or more in diameter. Very attractive and easily grown. As you can see, it also can be grown as a terrestrial. Recently, I have been seeing more hybrids with this species as one parent. It is a self heading species, but, it is not a Meconostigma.

The plant is very hardy, but good drainage is essential. I lost some of my plants in a spot where the bulbous roots rotted during a very wet winter, fortunately I had another plant in a spot protected from too much rainfall close to a wall.
They are very easy to propagate from the little bulbils formed in the axles, it also makes plenty of seed.
When grown in a pot keep it on the dry side during the long winter months.

I started this beauty from a small cutting I received last spring, it took off quite fast and grew into a one stemmed plant giving its first flowers in autumn nicely arranged in a whirl all the way on top, well exposed above the foliage. Of course I had to take it in before the cold set in as it is a true tropical originating from the rainforests of Madagascar, it will be my first experience how it will come through the winter inside the house, it requires high humidity so will be a challenge. I noticed that the lower leaves on the stem fall off, but maybe that is natural for the species.

The grower I bought it from said mine was a variant with long spurs.

Update: Apart from having suffered from aphids the plant has made it through the winter inside the house, it is now 1,5m tall! Once put outside in spring, the plant perched up and the aphids disappeared.

I have had it now for two years and it is a great plant for a shady place! Mine blooms non-stop from early spring until late Autumn, everything on it is beautiful, its velvet like foliage and the gorgeous large single blooms, attracting bumble bees and hoverflies.
Very suitable for growing in a container. Though a strong plant, good drainage is crucial!
Of course I have to take it inside before the first frost, I'll let it go dormant in its pot, only very sparingly watering when the soil gets too dry.

Grows in wet and damp habitats.

I was pleasantly surprised to see the first flower appearing on a cutting I have started last spring. It had to be Impatiens niamniamensis (Parrot Impatiens) like I had ordered. I had no idea what it was but certainly not the Parrot Impatiens!
I wrote the supplier who told me it is Impatiens bicaudata and a variety with long spur..Sometimes a mistake can be a blessing! :)) i'm grateful to him!

I hope I can keep it growing on inside the house for the coming winter, it is a frost tender specie, but certainly worth the effort!