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Semi Hardy Exotics

(Delivery May to Oct 2008)

Semi hardy tropical plants mail order from jungle gardens comprises a group of plants perhaps hardy in very sheltered locations i.e. in a micro climate. However these for most of us are best brought under cover and over wintered frost free. There are some delightful plants in this section that in my view fully make up for the effort involved!
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Abutilon pictum thompsonii

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In Propagation
Abutilon Pictum Thompsonii - 1 litre plants 2ft tall җ
One of my favourite Abutilons with golden yellow variegated leaves and Orange lantern like flowers. I have used this plant for tropical bedding over many years as part of yellow themed displays. Over winters easily indoors and when it gets too leggy just cut it back allowing it to regrow.

Arundo donax

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Sold Out
Arundo Donax 3 litre plants 2ft tall җ
A tropical member of the grass family much hardier than the variegated form making tall 12ft stems in a season. Cold hardy maybe to -10°C. A real eye catcher if grown well. We offer a very robust form with larger stems.

Arundo donax variegata

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Arundo Donax 3 litre plants 3ft tall җ
A tropical member of the grass family  with thick stems and lovely variegation. Not that cold hardy maybe -5°C if the roots are, protected. 6ft

Bartlettina sordida

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In Propagation
Blue Spur Flower 1 litre 12" plants җ
An easy to grow, rare, semi hardy shrub for collectors of subtropicals. This Eupatorium, a relative from Mexico, forms a multi-branching shrub 8’ tall or more & blooms Autumn through to Spring where it can be kept frost free. The flower clusters are held well above the exotic foliage and look like giant Ageratum blooms. The large leaves are also beautiful, a velvety green with violet veining. The very upright stalks and stems are deep maroon/purple. Bartlettina grows quickly and thrives in bright shade & moist, rich soil. Frost tender though to about -5°C and ideal for a sheltered microclimate or as a spectacular conservatory plant. (My stock plants after a year, are 6ft tall with at least 12 large azure blue flower heads about 12" across - quite stunning for a February display)

Dahlia imperialis

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Giant Dahlia 1 litre plants җ

If you are into pretty Dahlia flowers then this is not for you! But - if you are into giant tree size foliage then this one takes the cake. It is semi hardy and from our own experience will stand a mild winter left outside like any other dahlia, regrowing from the root stock again in late spring the following year. In the UK probably 10ft is the best you may see in a season but in it’s natural habitat 10 metres is quite normal for 9 months growth! It does flower with pretty single pink flowers but by November the frost will probably have got there first. Has to be seen to be believed with huge 4" diameter stems and massive leaves. As I write this section on the 10th Nov looking out of our office window, one of our own plants still outside stands at 14ft with multiple stems and in bud! With the forecast this weekend for frost though I think it unlikely flower as in the picture.

Iochroma australe

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On Hold - In Propagation
Mini Angel's Trumpet 1 litre plants 1ft tall җ җ
Iochroma australis is a lovely half-hardy shrub or small tree, related to Brugmansia. It has lilac blue pendant flowers produced in abundance throughout the summer months and makes a lovely conservatory shrub. Needs pruning each spring to make a compact form and reasonably hardy with one specimen growing outside at Wisley and another in Cambridge. A trial plant in our garden came through the cold winter of 2005/6 without protection but cut to the ground. New growth in 2006 reached 4ft but flowering was late into autumn.

Olea europa

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Olive Tree 5 litre standard plants җ
Excellent standard Olive trees, 3ft tall in a 5 litre pot. Here is your chance to grow your own fresh Olives. Plants already in flower bud.

Punica granatum - Pomegranite

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Pomegranite grafted plants 1 litre pots 1ft tall җ
Established grafted plants they will tolerate a few degrees of frost but best in a frost free conservatory. Attractive red flowers followed by edible fruits.

Punica granatum nana - Dwarf Pomegranite

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Dwarf Pomegranite plants 2 litre pots 1ft tall җ
Established dwarf pomegranite plants that will tolerate a few degrees of frost but best as a pot plant in a frost free conservatory. Attractive red flowers followed by small but edible fruits.

Ricinus Carmencita Red

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Ricinus Carmencita Red- 1 litre pots 18" tall
The best flowering Ricinus in our trials for the seed heads which are bright red. Smaller more manageable plants to 4ft if space is limited with a good red/bronze leaf colouring in full sun.

Ricinus New Zealand Purple

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Ricinus New Zealand Purple- 1 litre pots 18" tall
A fabulous plant in our trials with 8ft towers of rich metallic re/purple leaves and stems. Flowers and seed pods are also a deep red/purple. Quite a stunning plant and quite rare as it was only introduced for the first time in 2005.

Ricinus zanzibarensis

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Ricinus New Zealand Purple- 1 litre pots 18" tall
The largest annual Ricinus with huge 3ft leaves. These spectacular foliage plants can reach 12ft or even larger if given a frost free start in a large pot before planting out for summer bedding.

Saccharum officinarum violaceum

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Purple Sugar Cane 1 litre 2ft tall plants
An excellent architectural plant that grows at an astonishing speed to 10ft given enough warmth. It is definitely a lot tougher and cold hardier than the ordinary form with March propagated cuttings already reaching 10ft tall by August under glass and 6ft plus outside. A graceful elegant large grass with purple/green leaves and purple veins that also performed really well as summer bedding in our trials, forming large purple grass clumps to 7ft by August/September. After running trials 2005/2006 to see if this tough plant is winter hardy, we now believe it to be quite tender at the root level and needs a warm winter environment keeping it on the dry side. Much easier to look after though than the tropical green edible form.

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Symbols

To Grow -- Easy Moderate and Challenging

May be ok for a dry Conservatory

Hardiness - To -5°C җ To -10°C җ җ Fully Hardy җ җ җ

Needs Shady Position Sunny Position Water Loving