Exotics
All A B C D E F G H I J M N P S T Y Z
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Abromeitiella brevifolia
A spreading bromeliad from Argentina and Bolivia, forming congested hummocks of miniature, rigid, densely packed, evergreen, spiny rosettes. Bright green tubular flowers in summer are visible to those with good eyesight. This is quite hardy but doesn't like much water, so grow in pots overwintered under glass. Will eventually look great in a wide terracotta pan.
A spreading bromeliad from Argentina and Bolivia, forming congested hummocks of miniature, rigid, densely packed, evergreen, spiny rosettes. Bright green tubular flowers in summer are visible to those with good eyesight. This is quite hardy but doesn't like much water, so grow in pots overwintered under glass. Will eventually look great in a wide terracotta pan.
Acacia caven
A very drought tolerant large shrub to small tree making gnarled, characterful specimens in the drier parts of Chile. Rich-yellow balls of flower in summer over very finely bi-pinnate, comparatively small, delicate looking leaves. This proved a great success outside the old Alpine house at Kew over many years. Try this in well drained soil and full sun, in a sheltered spot.
A very drought tolerant large shrub to small tree making gnarled, characterful specimens in the drier parts of Chile. Rich-yellow balls of flower in summer over very finely bi-pinnate, comparatively small, delicate looking leaves. This proved a great success outside the old Alpine house at Kew over many years. Try this in well drained soil and full sun, in a sheltered spot.
Agave applanata
A most arresting medium sized species making rosettes of absolutely rigid pale blue leaves to a length of about 1m, lined and tipped with contrasting strong dark teeth. The ends of the dagger-like leaves taper slowly to form a plant of great beauty. Young plants resemble some forms of A. parryi. Hardiness untested as yet. These are from El Limon, Veracruz, Mexico.
A most arresting medium sized species making rosettes of absolutely rigid pale blue leaves to a length of about 1m, lined and tipped with contrasting strong dark teeth. The ends of the dagger-like leaves taper slowly to form a plant of great beauty. Young plants resemble some forms of A. parryi. Hardiness untested as yet. These are from El Limon, Veracruz, Mexico.
Agave atrovirens var. mirabilis F&M 245
One of the very largest of all Agave, forming extremely handsome rosettes over 4m across and 2.5m high. A gargantuan beast from the cool, moist highlands of east central Mexico, this will undoubtedly possess a certain degree of hardiness, but more importantly it will be very moisture tolerant. Very rare in cultivation and untested here yet. See my website for photos.
One of the very largest of all Agave, forming extremely handsome rosettes over 4m across and 2.5m high. A gargantuan beast from the cool, moist highlands of east central Mexico, this will undoubtedly possess a certain degree of hardiness, but more importantly it will be very moisture tolerant. Very rare in cultivation and untested here yet. See my website for photos.
Agave gracilipes
Collected as seed in W Texas this is one of the rarest hardy species and forms plants to about 1m across composed of many comparatively slim, stiff, blue-green leaves. This species should be hardy to -26c if dry, so like Agave parryi and others, should be fairly easily growable outdoors in the UK in an exceptionally well drained bed.
Collected as seed in W Texas this is one of the rarest hardy species and forms plants to about 1m across composed of many comparatively slim, stiff, blue-green leaves. This species should be hardy to -26c if dry, so like Agave parryi and others, should be fairly easily growable outdoors in the UK in an exceptionally well drained bed.
Agave lechuguilla
Collected at Real de Catorce, San Luis Potosi, Mexico, at 2700m, this species forms a slim leaved plant and in this case with a central pale green stripe down the middle of each leaf. Never very big, it is worth experimenting with outside in poor, well drained ground or broken rock. Some forms of this species have proven quite easy and hardy. Very drought tolerant.
Collected at Real de Catorce, San Luis Potosi, Mexico, at 2700m, this species forms a slim leaved plant and in this case with a central pale green stripe down the middle of each leaf. Never very big, it is worth experimenting with outside in poor, well drained ground or broken rock. Some forms of this species have proven quite easy and hardy. Very drought tolerant.
Agave lechuguilla
Collected in the Hueco Mts, Texas, this species forms a slim leaved, upright, small plant. Never very big, it is worth experimenting with outside in poor, well drained ground or broken rock. Some forms of this species have proven quite easy and hardy and this should be one of the toughest forms considering its provenance. Very drought tolerant.
Collected in the Hueco Mts, Texas, this species forms a slim leaved, upright, small plant. Never very big, it is worth experimenting with outside in poor, well drained ground or broken rock. Some forms of this species have proven quite easy and hardy and this should be one of the toughest forms considering its provenance. Very drought tolerant.
Agave montana F&M 221
Truly one of the most exciting plants in Mexico and an absolute gem of an Agave, forming a rosette of variably patterned and variably armed foliage of immense beauty, up to 1.5m across. These, from 3000m in the La Peña Nevada Mountains will be some of the hardiest and easiest Agaves to grow in the UK, given a very well drained site in full sun .
Truly one of the most exciting plants in Mexico and an absolute gem of an Agave, forming a rosette of variably patterned and variably armed foliage of immense beauty, up to 1.5m across. These, from 3000m in the La Peña Nevada Mountains will be some of the hardiest and easiest Agaves to grow in the UK, given a very well drained site in full sun .
Agave parryi JCA 1.035.000
One of the hardiest Agaves if given extremely well drained conditions, known to have survived for decades in cold inland gardens in the UK. A beautiful rounded clump of thick, tough, spine-tipped and toothed glaucous leaves, quite different and smaller growing than the common A. americana. For a raised bed in full sun. From Yavapai Co., AZ, USA.
One of the hardiest Agaves if given extremely well drained conditions, known to have survived for decades in cold inland gardens in the UK. A beautiful rounded clump of thick, tough, spine-tipped and toothed glaucous leaves, quite different and smaller growing than the common A. americana. For a raised bed in full sun. From Yavapai Co., AZ, USA.
Agave parryi large form
Seed collected from exceptionally large plants, with rigid, broad leaves in dense rosettes of up to 4ft across at over 7000ft in New Mexico at the North Eastern corner of its natural range. These should cope with cold down to minus 28c if dry, and will do perfectly well outside in the UK in very well drained conditions This is most probably referable to the var. huachucensis.
Seed collected from exceptionally large plants, with rigid, broad leaves in dense rosettes of up to 4ft across at over 7000ft in New Mexico at the North Eastern corner of its natural range. These should cope with cold down to minus 28c if dry, and will do perfectly well outside in the UK in very well drained conditions This is most probably referable to the var. huachucensis.
Agave salmiana F&M 290
Collected at 2960m alt. in Queretaro, Mexico, these are the highest altitude A. salmiana I have ever seen in Mexico and should represent the hardiest plants of the species, indeed they were growing with A. montana! A variably sized but always attractive and beefy looking moisture tolerant species with sea-green, broad, smooth foliage. A superb choice for the milder parts of the UK climate.
Collected at 2960m alt. in Queretaro, Mexico, these are the highest altitude A. salmiana I have ever seen in Mexico and should represent the hardiest plants of the species, indeed they were growing with A. montana! A variably sized but always attractive and beefy looking moisture tolerant species with sea-green, broad, smooth foliage. A superb choice for the milder parts of the UK climate.
Agave scabra x americana F&M 310
A natural hybrid often found in the wild, these are from an area with some utterly superb plants. Glaucous to white-glaucous with rough undersides to the foliage and of course vicious teeth, often emerging from teat-like extensions to the leaf edges. Should make plants to about 1m across, and pretty hardy too. These are from W of Cd. Victoria, NE Mexico.
A natural hybrid often found in the wild, these are from an area with some utterly superb plants. Glaucous to white-glaucous with rough undersides to the foliage and of course vicious teeth, often emerging from teat-like extensions to the leaf edges. Should make plants to about 1m across, and pretty hardy too. These are from W of Cd. Victoria, NE Mexico.
Aloe polyphylla
A gem of the succulent world and admired across the globe for its incredible spiral leaf arrangement and hardiness. Forms a single, dense rosette up to 75cm across with the leaves arranged in a perfect spiral. The flowers are orange red and come on a branched inflorescence. For very freely drained but not dry soil in full sun with protection. Magnificent, and a great rarity.
A gem of the succulent world and admired across the globe for its incredible spiral leaf arrangement and hardiness. Forms a single, dense rosette up to 75cm across with the leaves arranged in a perfect spiral. The flowers are orange red and come on a branched inflorescence. For very freely drained but not dry soil in full sun with protection. Magnificent, and a great rarity.
Aloe striatula
A hardy Aloe!! Well almost. This is successfully grown outside throughout the SW but can also be grown further inland in a very sheltered, sunny, very, very well drained spot. Survived -15c in 1987 by regrowing from the base. Multi-stemmed to 1.5m high, topped by orange and yellow Kniphofia-like flowers in July over the succulent deep-green leaves.
A hardy Aloe!! Well almost. This is successfully grown outside throughout the SW but can also be grown further inland in a very sheltered, sunny, very, very well drained spot. Survived -15c in 1987 by regrowing from the base. Multi-stemmed to 1.5m high, topped by orange and yellow Kniphofia-like flowers in July over the succulent deep-green leaves.
Amorphophallus konjac
An awesome aroid, the 'Snake palm' or 'Devil's Tongue', producing a heavily dissected leaf up to 2m across on a white/pink/green mottled stalk. Massive funnel shaped, wavy edged, spotted, brown-green, bad smelling flower with a maroon spadix up to 1.1m appears after a few years. Treat like a Dahlia, lift in winter and store dry-ish. Just moist, half shade.
An awesome aroid, the 'Snake palm' or 'Devil's Tongue', producing a heavily dissected leaf up to 2m across on a white/pink/green mottled stalk. Massive funnel shaped, wavy edged, spotted, brown-green, bad smelling flower with a maroon spadix up to 1.1m appears after a few years. Treat like a Dahlia, lift in winter and store dry-ish. Just moist, half shade.
Beschorneria albiflora
Quite probably never offered before in the UK, this is the only species in the genus to form trunks, upright or reclining with green or glaucous rosettes of strappy leaves. Huge, branched, red stalked inflorescences to 3m with dangling tubular flowers, greenish-white in bud, turning pink. The most southerly in the genus but found at up to 3000m in Mexico.
Quite probably never offered before in the UK, this is the only species in the genus to form trunks, upright or reclining with green or glaucous rosettes of strappy leaves. Huge, branched, red stalked inflorescences to 3m with dangling tubular flowers, greenish-white in bud, turning pink. The most southerly in the genus but found at up to 3000m in Mexico.
Beschorneria septentrionalis
The most northerly species in nature, with rosettes of green foliage. Principally grown for the striking, arching, shocking red-pink flower stalks about 1.5m high (the colour of a tart's knickers), with pendulous, red 'n' green, tubular flowers, produced when established. Full sun, very well drained soil and a sheltered spot, preferably with light overhead cover.
The most northerly species in nature, with rosettes of green foliage. Principally grown for the striking, arching, shocking red-pink flower stalks about 1.5m high (the colour of a tart's knickers), with pendulous, red 'n' green, tubular flowers, produced when established. Full sun, very well drained soil and a sheltered spot, preferably with light overhead cover.
Beschorneria tubiflora
At last the real thing, which is widely confused in cultivation with B. yuccoides. This species is smaller than the latter with slimmer leaves and a red/pink flower spike to about 1.8m with, most importantly, no branches. Should be as hardy as B. yuccoides, so give it a sheltered position in poor, very well drained soil and full sun. Native to Hidalgo, Mexico.
At last the real thing, which is widely confused in cultivation with B. yuccoides. This species is smaller than the latter with slimmer leaves and a red/pink flower spike to about 1.8m with, most importantly, no branches. Should be as hardy as B. yuccoides, so give it a sheltered position in poor, very well drained soil and full sun. Native to Hidalgo, Mexico.
Beschorneria yuccoides 'Quicksilver'
An amazing Mexican plant for a very well drained and sunny position, surviving many degrees of frost given these conditions. From the rosettes of narrow grey-green foliage emerge monstrous, bright red flower stalks to 3m long, arching outward, and dangling the pendulous, tubular, red and green flowers from their branches. Truly spectacular in flower.
An amazing Mexican plant for a very well drained and sunny position, surviving many degrees of frost given these conditions. From the rosettes of narrow grey-green foliage emerge monstrous, bright red flower stalks to 3m long, arching outward, and dangling the pendulous, tubular, red and green flowers from their branches. Truly spectacular in flower.
Beschorneria yuccoides x septentrionalis
These are first generation plants from this hand pollinated cross. Expect the usual huge red/pink flower stalk after a few years, but who knows, perhaps these will have gained hybrid vigour. Be one of the first to try this new plant. Both parents are from rocky positions in cold parts of Mexico, so, full sun in well drained soil in a sheltered position.
These are first generation plants from this hand pollinated cross. Expect the usual huge red/pink flower stalk after a few years, but who knows, perhaps these will have gained hybrid vigour. Be one of the first to try this new plant. Both parents are from rocky positions in cold parts of Mexico, so, full sun in well drained soil in a sheltered position.
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