2021 was a fantastic year in my small tropical style garden. Lush exotic leaves are huge and the bold tropical flowers did not disappoint.
In late summer I took the opportunity to slow down, step back and enjoy the garden. Each year brings with it success and failures so it is important to take note and learn from the process. Unfortunately 2021 was the year that I lost my exotic Albizia tree, I suspect through it being pot bound and not getting enough water. Each loss is a lesson learned.
I had great success in germinating and growing many exotic plants from seeds. The addition of my greenhouse and heated propagator were been a blessing, but please do not think that they are vital for successful plant propagation. I have been growing tropical and exotic plants on a sunny windowsill for years, work with whatever you have available and you will find a way.
Every growing season, for me, comes with a new obsession. 2021 was the year that my Brugmansia collection rapidly grow to nearly 20 cultivars. I had hoped to be enjoying plenty of giant fragrant blooms in and around my tropical garden during the late weeks of summer. I had also collected some beautiful and structural Aeoniums. I think Aeoniums make a fabulous addition to tropical style planting and I’d still love to grow some interesting species from seed. Unusual palmate foliage is something that I have long been drawn to. I indulged myself in the purchase of a small Brassiopsis mitis, the ‘Holy Grail’ of interesting leaves (at least for the time being!). Overall I am very pleased with my experiences in the garden this year, if a little frustrated by the fact I seem to never remember that I am limited on space!
Plants in this video
00:00 Rain in the tropical style garden
00:05 Persicaria rucinata ‘Purple Fantasy’
00:11 Begonia grandis
00:17 Colocasia ‘Thai Giant’
00:25 Saccharum officinarum ‘Rubra’
00:30 Brassiopsis mitis & Monstera delicosa
00:35 Musa masjoo
00:43 Lobelia fistulosa
00:48 Brassiopsis mitis
00:58 Iochroma australis ‘Red’
01:01 Rhus typhina
01:09 Salvia confertiflora
01:14 Abutilon megapotanicum
01:24 Impatiens auricoma x bicaudata
01:37 Fatsia ‘Spiders Web’
01:43 Begonia luxurians
01:48 Sellaginela krausiana
01:55 Impatiens morseii
02:04 Impatiens niamniamensis variegata
02:16 Begonia gryphon
02:23 Brugmansia suavolens ‘White’
02:30 Cleome
02:41 Aeonium ‘Cyclops’
02:48 Aeonium ‘Zwarkftop’
02:52 Aeonium tabuliforme
03:10 Schefflera taiwaniana
03:30 Rubus linneatus
03:36 Hyloteliphium spectabilis
03:43 Asplenium scolopendrum
03:54 Geranium maderense
03:59 Justicia carnea
04:05 Pseudopanax laetus & Sambucas nigra ‘Blue Sheen’
04:15 Saccharum officinarum ‘Rubra’
04:24 Tillandsia species
04:36 Brassiopsis mitis
05:01 Fatsia polycarpa ‘Green Fingers’
05:11 Lobelia fistulosa
05:17 Woodwardia radicans
05:26 Conniogramme emeinsis
05:30 Catalpa bignoniodes Aurea
