Exotic Plants And Flowers

A modest growing forest vine native to tropical and sub-tropical Australia. Seeds resemble crabs’ eyes and are poisonous. In India the roots are used to produce a licorice-like compound that is edible. Flowers grow in racemes and are white to deep pink in color. Germination tips: Propagate from seeds. Soak the seeds before sowing.

Small open crowned trees from tropical eastern Australia. Growing tips: Abroma prefer sheltered areas among other trees and good soil. Germination tips: It is best to propagate Abroma from seed.

Small shrubs from China and Mexico. Flowers from spring to autumn in a range of colors. Those colors are red, pink, mauve and white. Growing tips: Abelia prefer rich well drained soil in an open site. Abelia will tolerate some frost. Prune after flowering. Germination tips: It is best to propagate Abelia from new growth …

Michelia is one tough cookie to germinate. I have literally tried everything to get this fragrant, must-have plant to grow from seed – and failed miserably every time. Of course, when I saw the seeds this year, I couldn’t resist – and thus am trying again. This time I am using a different method and …

Chocolate…the word makes our mouth water, but where does chocolate come from? In a world where the natural resource struggles to keep up with man’s demand, let’s take a look at the fascinating tree, Theobroma Cacao. Originally chocolate was made into a spicy drink by the Aztecs somewhere between the 13th and 16th centuries. Chocolate …

  Plant lovers know plants make the best gifts. You simply cannot have enough plants and there is always room to add “just one more” plant to the mix. This can drive the non-plant people in your life up the wall. Dodging bags of soil, large pots that don’t quite fit where we want them …

As many of you know, my greenhouse and the plants inside of it were destroyed last fall. I have not built my collection back up yet, nor has the large greenhouse undergone the necessary repairs to make it usable. This video shows what remains of the tropical plants.

  – Oh wait, that’s a line from a Bryan Adams song. Hmmm – wonder if I could get into trouble for using it? Well, Bryan, all I can say is if you’re out there reading this post,  that was exactly how I felt when I was at the GWA Symposium in Indianapolis last week and …

I laid these seeds after soaking them for 24 hours on top of vermiculite on October 24, 2004. They germinated on December 28, 2004.

Gardening enthusiasts often find joy and satisfaction in nurturing plants from their earliest stages. One such remarkable journey began on November 10, when Amaryllis Pecotee x Double Blossom Peacock seeds were delicately placed on the surface of water in a baby food jar. This blog post takes you through the fascinating story of these seeds, …