Tropicals & Tender Perennials: Plantfiles for Ensete, 0 by wallaby1

wallaby1 wrote:
yep, already done that. bought some stuff last year from rareplants, got a tecophilea cyanocrocus but didn't have my digi camera then so no photo,
i went to chilterns site and they seem not to be operational at the moment, their new catalogue comes out at end Nov so poss preparing it, they don't have pictures but have many intersting rare seeds as they can get them, they are what I would call 'serious' suppliers, will post the link anyway so when they get going you can have a look http://www.edirectory.co.uk/chilternseeds/pages/index.asp?ci... if this doesnt work http://www.chilternseeds.co.uk typed in should do the trick. they don't put out heir new cat. until they are sure of their stocks, but get new stuff in all year as it comes, might not have that canna this time, didn't last year but had c. warscewiczii, wish I had got that as may not be around next year. failing them having it you will have to coerce me into sending you a bit! No photo, couldn't find one as it doesn't seem to exist but where I mentioned, can only tell you what it said in the catalogue......"probably virtually new to cultivation in these Islands is this magnificent Canna species. Found in the wild along the banks of streams and rivers, it is a stately, substantial, (height 12-15 ft) plant - with sheer bulk explains our supplier. Clump-forming with stout stems, sporting a wealth of large (3' x 1.5') apple green leaves, it bears numerous clusters of small, exotic blooms apricot in colour, flushed pink at the face and with a recurved lower petal. Although cold tolerant and can be grown outdoors in the UK in full sun in the manner of dahlias and lifted in winter for frost free storage, it will perform best and be admired most if grown in your conservatory. In any case, water and feed copiously. HHP"

I have dahlias in the ground, they survive well. I wll have to split this canna and try some in ground when bigger. It only has leaves around 9" tall at moment, the bulbous tubers around 3/4" diam each, it germinated late. Got it indoors now. Sounds very nice. i thought about hostas too, but decided the same as you, too many.

The nursery with the eucomis is http://www.pennardplants.com/photogallery.html?p=4&cat=5&zon... they have a lot of varieties, they spelt it wrong, no 'r' at the end I think, this cultivar 'octopus' I haven't found anywhere else. I also have pole-evansii 2 years now, not going anywhere fast, Joy's purple from pennardplants.com, also Peace Candles and comosa. Like the looks of Montana.

Not seen the striped callas, but you do seem to have more breeding going on in the states, I had to get crinum seed from some in Florida and Australia, growing OK but just started this year. Have you seen my pic of the z Pink Mist on plantfiles? canna Black Knight leaves behind.

here's a nice pic of that canna leaves i've played around with