October 2014 in the Northern Hemisphere

[Maggi Young]

We saw this houseplant recently, can anyone enlighten me as to what it is please? (Sorry about poor quality of picture but it was rather dark).

First thought was Billbergia  pyramidalis, Brian - but it's "missing" some outer bracts  I think .....     Not sure if they drop of at some stage and leave the flower head more exposed.

[Brian Ellis]

I think the foliage is wrong for that, it was rather like a clivia's foliage.

[Maggi Young]

Hmm, yes, I see what you mean -  I remain to be convinced  one way or the  other -  fence-sitting!

[ThomasB]

To me Aechmea fulgens (a bromeliad) looks pretty similar to Brian's plant. There are several cultivars which are offered as houseplant.

[Brian Ellis]

To me Aechmea fulgens (a bromeliad) looks pretty similar to Brian's plant. There are several cultivars which are offered as houseplant.

Thank you Thomas, a quick Google search has me convinced.

[johnstephen29]

Aster amellus, Michaelmas Daisy in flower here, always like to see these plants in flower at this time of year.

Aster Michaelmas Daisy by johnstephen29, on Flickr

[meanie]

For some reason this seed grown Lophospermum erubescens has been painfully slow growing. Worth the wait though.............

[Robert]

Meanie,

Beautiful photograph! Some months ago you posted a photograph of Solanum rantonnetii, a plant that I have missed from our garden for quite some time. About a month ago I found a doggy plant at the local nursery - not much in the way of foliage and no flowers. I bought it anyway and have nursed it back to health.



I started the following Codonopsis from seed this spring - and now they are blooming. This one is in a container twinning around a nearby Salvia elegans. I did plant one out in the garden. It was getting ready to bloom and the rodents ate it.    I shouldn't have been surprised!



The seed pack was labeled C. modesta - from the best I can tell it looks about right.



A sweet little plant that I like.



The dear Salvia elegans it is growing on. I think that the Salvia wants to steal the show.

[meanie]

Meanie,

Beautiful photograph!

Thanks!

Some months ago you posted a photograph of Solanum rantonnetii, a plant that I have missed from our garden for quite some time. About a month ago I found a doggy plant at the local nursery - not much in the way of foliage and no flowers. I bought it anyway and have nursed it back to health.

(Attachment Link)

I've found it very forgiving, although judging by the number of blooms it prefers the Californian climate!

I started the following Codonopsis from seed this spring - and now they are blooming. This one is in a container twinning around a nearby Salvia elegans. I did plant one out in the garden. It was getting ready to bloom and the rodents ate it.    I shouldn't have been surprised!

(Attachment Link)

The seed pack was labeled C. modesta - from the best I can tell it looks about right.

Slugs and snails did for mine.............

The dear Salvia elegans it is growing on. I think that the Salvia wants to steal the show.

I've grown the pure species and last winter was kind to it. Far better than the summer blooming cultivars, but very much dependant on us getting an exceptionally mild winter.
I gave it away in the spring as I've replaced it with S.gesneriiflora for my winter blooming Salvia (space is limited).

[Robert]

I gave it away in the spring as I've replaced it with S.gesneriiflora for my winter blooming Salvia (space is limited).

  Oh my G_d!

Salvia gesneriiflora was a beast that took over our greenhouse (3.3m x 16m)! It rooted through the gravel and ground cover cloth, grew to the roof after repeated hacking. The flowers were great. I certainly hope that yours behaves itself!

Thanks for the warning with the slugs eating Codonopsis. I'll think about keeping mine in containers so I can keep them safe and for close viewing. For me they are a delight!

[shelagh]

Lots of old plants still hanging on and fighting against autumn but only one which is flowering for the first time.  We were given it by a friend last year and it looks terrific in the front scree bed.  Aster ericoides prostrata 'Snow Flurry' just abour 3 to 4 inches tall and small flowers but just look how many you get.  My sort of plant

[Robert]

Aster ericoides prostrata 'Snow Flurry' just about 3 to 4 inches tall and small flowers but just look how many you get.  My sort of plant

I agree. My sort of plant too. Thanks for sharing the photograph. I'm curious for how many weeks it blooms? I guess you will have a better idea when you have had it for a few seasons.

[johnralphcarpenter]

The Camellia season is getting underway: Camellia sasanqua 'Rainbow'.

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Very happy with the performance of Gentiana scabra earlier this week.
(unfortunately slugs were just as enthousiatic about it...  )

[astragalus]

Beautiful, Luc - sorry about the slugs, but I'd trade my deer for them.