JunglePlants

Collectors Corner

COLLECTORS CORNER

For many reasons we acquire some unusual plants but not in a large enough quantity to put on our open Plant Shop. Please scroll down the list below to see what unusual plants we can provide but in very limited quantities. Please phone if you would like to purchase any so that we can control customer plant allocation.

Averrhoa carambola

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Star Fruit 1 year old plants 1 litre pots ■☻

Averrhoa carambola is a slow growing tree from Asia. In nature, the trees will reach about 30 feet but much smaller when pot grown and you can expect a 5ft tall tree after 5 years. The pinnate leaves are sensitive and the leaves fold together at night, much like mimosa and we believe also slightly sensitive to touch. The trees produce the well known star fruit, which is an astringent fruit with a sweet and sour flavour. The slow growing nature of these trees makes them an excellent container tree and flowers can be expected in the 3rd to 4th year from seed. In the greenhouse, these plants start flowering in late spring and will have up to 4 flushes of flowers throughout the year. Flowers form in the leaf axils. The variegated white and purple flowers are followed by yellow to golden brown fruits that are up to 5 inches (12.7 cm) long. Carambola needs a rich, moist, slightly acidic soil mix with full sun to partial shade and kept on the dry side over winter while the tree is dormant.

Chambeyronia macrocarpa

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Please call to Order 01491 614765

Red Leafed Palm 3, 5 & 7 litre plants ■☻

A rare palm with bright red colouring of the newly opened leaves which later turn to a dark green, fairly new to cultivation, it is easy to look after, performs well as an in-door palm. Not too sensitive to cool winter conditions but above 10C preferable. Over the last 5 years we have tested the germination of the seed that we sell and have a few plants in various sizes from 2ft to 6ft tall. Not in pristine condition but respectable as they get crowded in our polytunnels over winter otherwise taking up too much space. I am looking for some good homes for these unusual palms. Prices £30, £50 and £75 respectively.

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.

Dombeya wallichii

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Pink Ball Shrub large 5 litre plants☻

Dombeya is a spectacularly large shrub with large heart-shaped leaves and dense heads of little pink flowers which hang from foot long stems. The plant is native to Madagascar, but widely grown as a large garden shrub in Florida. Not at all frost hardy but ok for a cool conservatory. Can be pruned after flowering in mid summer to keep to a sensible size but best in a large conservatory where it will create a dramatic impression.

Epiphyllum Oxypetalum

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Queen of the Night 1 litre plants ■☻♥ ♣

An easily cultivated, fast growing epiphyte. Needs compost containing plenty of humus and sufficient moisture in summer. Should not be kept under 10ºC (50ºF) in winter. Can be grown in semi-shade but not full sun, extra light in the early spring will stimulate budding. Flowers in late spring or early summer and large specimens can produce several crops of flowers in a season. The blooms are stunning 12" wide strongly fragrant and pure white. Each bud only opens for one night though and usually after 7pm, and it is really frustrating if you miss it! This epiphyllum like plant can reach tree like proportions sending out 4ft glossy green shoots that are tougher than they look. Why we do not sell it is that slugs simply love the new growth and I gave up trying to produce "clean" plants, but if you do not mind the odd nibbled leaf we are happy to supply this rare and fabulous plant.

Hoya carnosa

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Limited Availability

Hoya carnosa 1 litre plants ■☻

Hoya carnosa is one of 100 species of Hoya that are native to Eastern Asia and Australia. This one was named after Thomas Hoym, gardener to the Duke of Northumberland at the end of the 18th century. This attractive waxy leaved vine bears clusters of star shaped, pink-white blossoms in summer. The delicate flowers appear to be made of porcelain and are truly unique and it makes a good house plant. It really needs at least 4 hours of direct sunlight a day, but also can be grown in bright indirect or curtain-filtered sunlight. Night temperatures of 60 to 65 degrees and day temperatures of 70 degrees or higher are optimal. Water freely during flowering but allow the soil to become almost dry between waterings when the plants are resting. Fertilize every 2 months in spring and summer. Do not remove the leafless spurs or stubs, on which new flowers appear every year.

Musa rubinea

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Red Banana 3 litre plants■☻♥

A recent Musa discovery in China that we are privileged to have a few plants available, originally grown from seed but we have limited stock and new seed is no longer available.

Plumeria pudica

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White or Bridal Frangipani small 1 litre plants ■☻

A rare plumeria in the UK but much more suitable for pot culture, it is deciduous under drought or very cold conditions but in our heated greenhouses the fiddle shaped green leaves remain evergreen. It produces large pure white flowers with a yellow eye bourne in clusters, unfortunately without much scent. The attraction though is the branching habit, and the ability to flower continuously all year round in a heated conservatory. Easy to prune and keep in shape and encouragement to branch by pruning will produce even more flowering tips. This plant rarely sets seeds with only a handful of seed pods ever recorded but a collector sent us some seed from a pod formed last year and we had 98% germination. These may have crossed with other Plumeria rubra hybrids giving some different colour tints and perhaps a smidgen more of scent. Be one of the first to find out!

Poncirus trifoliata

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Ornamental only Japanese Bitter Orange 3 litre pots 3ft tall plus ■☻җ җ җ

Deciduous spiny shrub or small tree, a relative of the Citrus family. The fruits are small 1" to 2" and bitter, but the flowers are typical Citrus with white sweetly scented blossoms. This is pretty hardy to about -20C and is often used for rootstock fruiting citrus trees. (See my Hardy Citrus Plant section). The attractive dark glossy green leaves and flowers make it worthwhile.

Rheum palmatum tanguiticum

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Limited Availability ■☻ җ җ җ ♥

Ornamental Rhubarb in 3 or 5 litre pots

If you like large leaves and spectacular flowers you have to grow this form of ornamental rhubarb. It forms huge clumps of large, often purple backed soft leaves, supporting columns of 6ft tall red flowers. An excellent spot plant for a lawn specimen that requires plenty of water to be impressive. We split up an old clump from our garden last autumn and have a few plants for sale.

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