Exotic Plants And Flowers

Brunfelsia facinates me. The main reason is because I love night blooming plants. Although I have germinated many different varieties of Brunfelsia over the years, due to heat loss and other unexpected situations the only variety I have left is Brunfelsia floribunda which has survived for the past several years. This past spring I potted …

There are a lot of hot issues surrounding the cultivation of rare plants. Collection and import regulations are becoming stricter. There are laws that prevent the removal of plants from the wild without proper permission. There are laws that govern what can be done with a rare plant once permission has been obtained to remove …

Cochliostema odoratissimum was first discovered and named in 1847. Later it was re-named Cochliostema jacobianum by a Mr. Linden who introduced the plant at the Paris Exhibition of 1867. Mr. Linden exhibited the plant in full foliage and then sent the plant to England. The name comes from the Greek word kochlos which means spiral …

Clitoria is an easy care-free vine that can thrive in a variety of conditions. Although this plant prefers well-drained soil it can thrive in poor soil or even sand and under various lighting conditions.   The flowers of this plant are available as both single and double varieties. A little known fact is that they …

Hailing from South Africa, the Strelitzia is cultivated worldwide. The most common, Strelitzia Reginae, is a rapid grower that reaches four feet high and spreads in clumps. The Strelitzia Nicolai, commonly called the “White Bird Of Paradise,” can grow up to fifteen feet high. Its leaves can easily be mistaken for those of a Banana. …

Soapnuts are a great natural alternative laundry detergent that you can grow right in your yard if you live in USDA zone 6 or higher. Soapnuts come from the genus Sapindus which contains about twelve species of trees and shrubs. These plants, also called soapberry, are native to warm temperate to tropical regions. There are …

The plants in the greenhouse are doing so well that I decided it was time once again to dig into my seed stash to see what unusual seeds I could come up with. I have a nice stack sitting on the table beside me that I want to germinate over the next few weeks, however …

Here are a number of videos on Theobroma cacao by Sheri Ann Richerson.  Enjoy! A New Variety Of Theobroma (2019) Newly updated how to germinate Theobroma video (2016) – Greenhouse video (2010) – Presentation video (2010) – The beginning of my love for Theobroma (shot in 2000, but not uploaded until 2018) – About Sheri …

I planted these seeds on October 12, 2004. I placed them in a coldframe. They germinated on October 25, 2004.

Abutilon are soft wooded flowering shrubs that are widespread throughout the world’s mild to warm climate countries. Growing tips: Prune after flowering. Germination tips: Propagate from seeds or cuttings. To propagate from seed cover the seed lightly with vermiculite. Temperatures should be between 72 to 75 degrees F. Germination can occur within 3 days. Flowering …