Nothing brings drama to the garden more than the statuesque Echiums. Their towering summer blooms will attract enquiries from all who lay eyes upon them as to their identity and where they can get seeds. Perhaps not the best choice for my Scottish readers, but hardier than you may think, Echium Candicans will stand temperatures[…]
Plant Profile – Echium Candicans – Pride Of Madeira
By Mark - Garden for Pleasure Biennials, Container gardening, Exotic Plants, Ornamental gardening, Plant Profiles, Summer Jun 06, 2023
Kew Gardens Orchid Festival 2023 Gallery
By Mark - Garden for Pleasure Exotic Plants, Houseplants, Orchids Mar 07, 2023
The much loved Orchid Festival at Kew Gardens 2023 was a joy to behold. What a treat to visit a garden in February and have such gorgeous flowers on show. It was truly a sight for sore eyes. This years display in the Princess of Wales Conservatory at Kew took inspiration from the amazing beauty[…]
Plantaholic’s Choice – Ferraria Crispa – The Starfish Iris
By Mark - Garden for Pleasure Container gardening, Exotic Plants, Fragrant plants, Ornamental gardening, Plantaholics choice Jan 11, 2023
This strange curiosity is still a thing of great beauty to me. Ferraria Crispa’s exotic appearance is not deceiving as it is not hardy in our U.K winters and is therefore best grown in a pot to be moved to more favourable conditions. From the small corms arise fleshy, sword-like leaves in early summer, closely[…]
Plant Profile – Dicksonia Antarctica – Tree Fern
By Mark - Garden for Pleasure Exotic Plants, Ornamental gardening, Plant Profiles Aug 23, 2022
Dicksonia Antarctica is a tree fern and one of the oldest plants known to man, predating the dinosaurs. They grow best with shelter, in a fully to partially shaded area. They are the easiest tree fern to grow in the U.K. climate, but will still require winter protection. Their eventual height can be up to[…]
Plantaholic’s Choice – Mangave ‘Mission to Mars’ and ‘Pineapple Express’
By Mark - Garden for Pleasure Container gardening, Exotic Plants, New plants, Ornamental gardening, Plantaholics choice Jun 21, 2022
Succulents have become more and more in vogue in recent years. Even the winner of the RHS Chelsea Plant of the year was a succulent in 2022. The newly developed Mangaves I wish to highlight here are at the height of fashion in the garden. Particularly with the rise in popularity of Xeric landscaping. For[…]
Plantaholic’s Choice – Canna Tropicanna Series
By Mark - Garden for Pleasure Bulbs, Container gardening, Exotic Plants, Ornamental gardening, Plantaholics choice, Summer Jun 22, 2021
You may have seen Cannas used as central dot plants in council bedding planting. However they are invaluable in the garden for their lush architectural foliage and bright, gladioli-like blooms. Their height and their dramatic, large, banana shaped leaves make them perfect for an exotic, jungle style garden. The Tropicanna series is particularly stunning, with[…]
Grow Your Own Pineapples
By Mark - Garden for Pleasure Exotic Plants, Fruit and veg gardening, Houseplants Sep 21, 2020
I have written about many unusual plants during my time as a blogger, but this has got to be a real novelty. You can amaze your friends and family by serving them up a delicious pineapple that you have grown yourself here in the U.K! Some of you may have grown various Bromeliad plants as[…]
Plantaholic’s Choice – Mandevilla sanderi ‘Bloom Bells’®Series
By Mark - Garden for Pleasure Climbing plants, Container gardening, Exotic Plants, Ornamental gardening, Plantaholics choice Jun 30, 2020
This delightful climbing plant requires a warm conservatory in the winter months, but in summer it provides its exquisite display as a patio specimen. Best grown in pots to move inside in the winter, Mandevilla sanderi ‘Bloom Bells® have dark, glossy, evergreen leaves to provide year-round interest. But it is the gorgeous, trumpet shaped blooms[…]
Plantaholic’s Choice – Zygopetalum ‘Trozy Blue’
By Mark - Garden for Pleasure Exotic Plants, Fragrant plants, Houseplants, Orchids, Ornamental gardening, Plantaholics choice Dec 04, 2019
Zygopetalum Trozy Blue is a stunning, tender orchid which is more suited to the enthusiast rather than the amateur as it is not quite as easy to care for as the more readily available Phalaenopsis orchids, but definitely worth a try if you are a little more experienced. Originally Zygopetalums are native to Brazil, the[…]
Plant Profile – Jacobinia Pauciflora (Brazilian Fuchsia)
By Mark - Garden for Pleasure Container gardening, Exotic Plants, Houseplants, Ornamental gardening, Plant Profiles, Shrubs, Winter Aug 07, 2019
This beautiful, exotic plant is sometimes also known as Justicia rizzinii or Justicia floribunda. Despite it’s common name it is not a Fuchsia at all but does originally hail from Brazil. It bears it’s scarlet and yellow tropical, pendulous blooms non stop throughout the winter and spring months when most other plants are at their[…]
- 1
- 2