Really weird things we grow?

[Tim Ingram]

New Zealand seems to be full of weird plants - where does the 'penwiper' plant get its name or Hebejeebie?

This is a beautiful and weirdish Mexican Pine in our garden - Pinus patula - with lots of male parts and just a few female in the centre of the picture. Looks rather wonderful at the moment.

[johnralphcarpenter]

Tom Hart-Dyke grows Dendrocnide moroides,, or Gympie Gympie, the Queensland stinger. Some say it is the most dangerous plant in the world. He grows it in a cage.

[Hoy]

Tim, where did you get that Pinus patula from? I've always wanted to grow one!

And weird things I don't know what you are talking about. I have only weird neigbours who wonder why I have all that weed in my garden

[Jupiter]

Ahhh my beloved Australia, the land where even the plants try to kill you.

I've encountered Gympie gympie in the wild while hiking through the rainforest. Didn't know it was that dangerous. A park ranger told us he'd heard of misguided and desperate tourists accidentally using the big soft leaves as toilet paper!      A mistake which you'd only make once, and would almost certainly land one in hospital! Red faced AND red bottomed.

Lawyer vine is worse in my opinion... Lethal bl@@dy stuff.

[Tim Ingram]

Trond - I grew it from seed (Chiltern Seed) many years ago. We sold most and had one left with a very wonky stem which I planted in the garden, so it is weird from several perspectives. Our lowest recorded temperature here has been -14°C so it might be worth you trying. Easy to grow from seed like most pines - next to it we have a huge Pinus ponderosa which is also magnificent as the "flowers" develop.

Caiophora and Loasa are good if you like stinging plants! There was, maybe still is, a good plant of Loasa canarinoides or triphylla(?) in the walled garden at West Acre, near Swaffham, Norfolk, which was really striking (and no worse than a nettle which is well established in our garden ). Years ago we also grew a climbing Caiophora from seed given to us by Brenda Anderson. So instead of planting a clematis with a honeysuckle why not go South American and plant Caiophora with a Mutisia!

And then there is Robert's 'Poison Ivy' in California...!

(sorry Cliff - Primula reptans is much too beautiful to be accounted weird. Ranunculus haastii must get closer , weird and beautiful).

[johnralphcarpenter]

How about Umbellularia californica, the Headache Tree. It grows in the Chelsea Physic Garden.

[Jupiter]

I have a garden full of weird and wonderful things. A lot of the aroids qualify I reckon;

Arisaema (various)
Arisarum proboscideum (and vulgare)
Biarum davisii
Dracunculus vulgaris
Arum dioscoridis

I have a little collection of Ceropegia in our bathroom. Those are pretty odd!

Ceropegia ampliata
C. succulenta
C. stapeliiformis
C. armandii
C. woodii
C. sandersonii (sadly now deceased)

Stapeliads are pretty weird, I grow Orbea variegata.

My Tropaeolums get comments from visitors, especially T. tricolorum

[Hoy]

Trond - I grew it from seed (Chiltern Seed) many years ago. We sold most and had one left with a very wonky stem which I planted in the garden, so it is weird from several perspectives. Our lowest recorded temperature here has been -14°C so it might be worth you trying. Easy to grow from seed like most pines - next to it we have a huge Pinus ponderosa which is also magnificent as the "flowers" develop.
. . . .

Thanks Tim. I have just ordered  some but not from Chiltern, as they didn't have at the moment!

Jamus, I grow some Arisaema too - I thought they where weird before I started growing them but not now!

[Anthony Darby]

I grew Urtica ferox, but lost the plant. Will have to get more from Oratia Nursery http://www.oratianatives.co.nz/.