Inspiration from one rainy spring climate to another
Hello dear readers, I’ve had a very busy February. The best bit has definitely been spending some time in the USA with our editor Kim, as we were both invited to speak at the Northwest Flower Show in Seattle! We even took part in a Container Wars contest, where Kim won (something I still heartily dispute!)
As a self-confessed plant geek, I loved visiting all the exhibitors in the main halls, and so I’m going to share some of my most interesting finds for you. Where possible, I’ve given a UK source for these plant gems.
Gloxinia ‘Akira’
I spent a lot of time on the stand of Dew Violets with a charming lady, who seemed to have some of the world’s most beautiful Gesneriads. These Gloxinia really reminded me of those that my Grandma used to grow, but ‘Akira’ stood out in particular. It had a price tag of nearly $50- but I’d say worth every penny. Dibley’s in North Wales offer some choice Gloxinia hybrids if you fancy growing a few.
Hydrangea ‘First Editions Eclispe’
I first met this Hydrangea in the USA last summer, where it had even darker foliage, so much so that you could confidently call it black. Selected by Bailey Nurseries in Minnesota, it is set for European launch imminently. The picotee flowers pair up perfectly with those seductive, dark leaves.
Kalanchoe ‘Chocolate Soldier’
I loved this plant with its cute, furry yet succulent foliage. Common in the UK in its silver form, this bronze type is worth hunting down if you can. Easy to grow, and really simple to propagate and share with friends. Plants might even surprise you with a flower from time to time!
Streptocarpus ‘Kaleidoscope’
I’ve already declared Streptocarpus as the ‘flowering houseplant of the year’, and if this one doesn’t get you reaching for your purse, I don’t know what will. Incredibly choice and unlike anything I’d ever seen before, this is another gem from the Gesneriad family. It turns out there are a lot of Gesneriad enthusiasts in the Pacific North West!
Dracaena ‘Stardust’
There’s a healthy set of houseplant shops in Seattle, and this sparkling Dracaena was displayed by Seattle-based, Plant Daddy. A lovely robust specimen, with vibrant speckled foliage. A quick search in the UK tells me we might be waiting a few more years to get our hands on such a choice houseplant unfortunately.
Euphorbia ‘Firesticks’
I have loved these Euphorbia tirucalli cultivars for years, and get very jealous how they’re used in outdoor landscaping around California. It’s worth finding a nice big specimen for a houseplant though, it’s trouble free and doesn’t need much watering. Plus, the foliage changes colour with each season, crescendoing in rich red for the winter months.
Begonia foliosa
A begonia that looks like a miniature tree? Yes please! Perfect for terrariums- they’ll lap up the moist environment! I was very lucky to see it in flower, the very moment where you can identify that it’s a plant in the begonia family- looks so familiar!
I didn’t spot this in the Northwest Flower show though, but as part of a very special tour of the Amazon Spheres in Downtown Seattle – which I’ll write about soon in my Substack!
You can find out more at https://mrplantgeek.substack.com/
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