PUSHING THE BORDERS

Bit more time now we are closed for the year.

One of my favourite Lilies and not as bothered by the lily beetle as some

Lilium speciosum by charliepridham, on Flickr

I always think it looks good with the Hedychiums spicatum below and maximum above (Not yet in flower)

Lilium speciosum 007 by charliepridham, on Flickr

Hedychium Stephan by charliepridham, on Flickr

Hedychium coccinea angustifolium by charliepridham, on Flickr

OK, I am a somewhat recent convert to Crocosmia I know at some point the can benefit from being dug up and replanted using just the best corms but when is the best time?

Crocosmia Solfatare 014 by charliepridham, on Flickr

This one manky flower is all the snails have allowed this year!

Crinum by charliepridham, on Flickr

Colutea x media 011 by charliepridham, on Flickr

Passiflora Betty Myles Young by charliepridham, on Flickr

Malvastrum lateritium by charliepridham, on Flickr

Any suggestions as to a name for this large yellow flowered Abutilon? one of Gerald Luckhusts planting on Madeira (he cant remember!)

Abutilon yellow 012 by charliepridham, on Flickr

charlie wrote: ↑Wed Aug 06, 2025 8:04 am
Any suggestions as to a name for this large yellow flowered Abutilon? one of Gerald Luckhusts planting on Madeira (he cant remember!)

Abutilon yellow 012 by charliepridham, on Flickr

Giving names back to Abutilon hybrids is a risky business since they self sow similar babies so easily.

That said, that looks like Abutilon 'John Thompson'.

Chad

Thanks Chad I will look it up, the National collection holder does not appear to have their own website and Paddock Plants who sell a large list have several clearly wrong images so I was reluctant to use them as a reference

Paddock Plants have a dedicated Abutilon site.

The information there, even if the pictures are unreliable, may help. For example, they think 'John Thompson' is a modern variety. So if you have had it for many years, then it is unlikely to be that.

Chad

ps. Paul Allen has a facebook group for the genus.

I won't mind if it just remains as 'Abutilon Yellow', it is a good plant anyway.
The one Charlie sold me some years ago has been moved around my garden at least twice and still flowers very well for a long period, spring to autumn.

@Charlie, that Passiflora is very beautiful. I understand it can also take winters down to about -10c. Is that about right?
I grow P. edulis in my greenhouse for the fruits and get enough produce from it to warrant its space. Would be a great boom to have a lovely Passiflora such as yours, that also produces edible fruit. It doesn't does it?

It does produce fruits but they are completely empty! I think more than a day or two at -5c would be enough to kill it , I have it right up against the house but have had to replace it once during the last 20 years or so.

charlie wrote: ↑Sun Aug 10, 2025 10:45 am It does produce fruits but they are completely empty!

Interesting, does it have another to help pollinate it, might that be a solution?

Looking good for me at the moment are the Agapanthus. A friend of mine said it was a good year for them and I can’t disagree.







Black Jack, which arrived on the scene recently amid much fanfare, I’m still undecided about. A number of the buds rotted before they opened but those which make it are a lovely dark colour.

Indigofera pendula has made great strides from a lifeless twig:



They are lovely shrubs. What’s not to like: pretty foliage, bright and attractive flowers, a lovely form and a very long flowering season:



Lots of colour from my hibiscus plants:







For the first year ever, all of my bulbs of Eucomis pole-evansii have produced a spike, as have the bulbs I gave away to friends:





Since being potted up Philesia has produced lots of blooms but is slowing down now. It’s a lovely shrub, just like its Lapageria friend:

It has been a bit windy here today.


Aralia elata 'Variegata' has had a main stem snapped, and the Hedychium are now horizontal.

I retreated to a very noisy tunnel.


Pleroma 'Edwardsii'.




Cyclamen hederifolium 'Red Sky' was lost and not watered for two years. I found it 10 days ago and, having nothing to lose, watered it. Result.



Dermatobotrys saundersii, flowering out of season.




Radermachera sinica showing why one of its English names is 'Serpent Tree'.

I didn't think I had fruit bats to pollinate it, but there are all sorts in the tunnel!

Chad