Six on Saturday. Potted Pleasures.

July has been a bit of a washout. But I’m not complaining because I’ve been spared hours of watering in my newly planted garden. Still, I am trying to warm myself up with some fiery colours. Last week, I was in the red and this week I have some more reds and warm oranges in pots.

Petunia exserta

My first one is beautiful Petunia exserta which I grew for the first time several years ago and wrote about on my blog. This year I am growing it again as it is a favourite of mine and it has a story; I love a plant with a story. This species petunia is so rare in its native homeland; the ancient and isolated pampas grassland of the Serras de Sedesta in Southern Brazil that it is almost extinct, like the Dodo. In fact maybe it already is extinct in the wild and growing it just like having a Dodo in the garden. It was only discovered in 1987 and in 2007 there were only 14 true Petunia exserta plants in the wild. Of course, there are the usual pressures of loss of habitat and climate change, but the other problem for this dear little petunia is that it hybridises with the wild white Petunia axillaris which is one of the parents of our modern petunias. Actually, I have found seed companies which list Petunia axillaris and next year I think I might try it, as it is intensely fragrant and will climb if given support. Obviously I won’t grow it alongside Petunia exserta. Mayan and Inca people believed that the scent of petunias warded off dangerous underground monsters and spirits, so that is handy. Petunia exserta is not fragrant as it is pollinated by hummingbirds and that is why it is bright red, so that it will attract them in spite of being tucked away in shady nooks on rocks. The flowers are star-shaped and the name exserta means projecting or thrust out and it refers to the extended stamens and stigma. I love it. It is easy from seed, I just sow it thinly in the pots it’s going to live in, so I don’t have to bother pricking it out.

Petunia exserta

Next I have a common or garden hippeastrum which we all grow at Christmas and for some reason incorrectly call ‘Amaryllis‘. I am not sure of the name of this one; it’s possibly ‘Red Lion’, but it is such an intense red. I like the way it blooms on a short stalk; they usually have such impractical giraffe necks. I have found that when I get these bulbs to re-flower they always do it in summer.

Hippeastrum

I have lots of red pelargoniums in pots which I have accumulated over the years; most of them with long forgotten names. But I always recognise Pelargonium ‘Paul Crampel’ because of its huge bright red flowers. This is a zonal pelargonium which took the world by storm when it was introduced in 1860. Nobody had ever seen such vigorous, bushy pelargoniums with such huge intensely scarlet flowers. It sold for a guinea each, which was a huge sum; about £110 in today’s money. This pelargonium became a familiar sight as it was planted outside Buckingham Palace for many years. Today, it has perhaps been superseded by ‘Moulin Rouge’ which is even better, but I like a bit of history with my plants. This is just a young plant from a cutting earlier this year but it will grow into a substantial plant.

Rosebud pelargoniums also create a bit of nostalgia, especially Pelargonium ‘Apple Blossom Rosebud’ which appeared in 1870 and was a favourite of Queen Victoria.

Pelargonium ‘Apple Blossom Rosebud‘

The Rosebud pelargonium was not created by some sort of Frankenstein genetic manipulation, it appeared as a spontaneous mutation in 1850. As you can imagine it was popular for buttonholes with its tight heads of double flowers. I also have Pelargonium ‘Scarlet Rambler’ which is a rosebud pelargonium from 1870. Both these rosebuds grow to about 60 cm. ‘ Apple Blossom Rosebud” kept on growing and bloomed all winter in the conservatory. ‘I chopped ‘Scarlet Rambler’ down and kept it in the shed, so I am lucky it survived. This winter it will come into the conservatory. I don’t know why it’s called ‘Rambler’ because it is an upright one and doesn’t ramble with me.

Pelargonium ‘Scarlet Rambler’

Mimulus auranticus has lovely orange, tubular flowers. I find it has confusingly been renamed Diplacus auranticus which I might have trouble remembering. But still, I refuse to call it Sticky Monkey Flower, even though it is sticky. This lovely plant is smothered in flowers throughout the summer. It comes from California where it is pollinated by two sorts of flies which have extremely long tongues which can reach down its long tubular throat. I don’t know whether we have any flies with long tongues here, but I take cuttings. This plant has to be kept frost free and quite dry in winter.

Diplacus auranticus

The orange flowered Thunbergia alata (or Black-Eyed Susie if you must,) flowers all summer long. I have it in a pot growing up the trellis in my secret garden. I wish I had planted it in the ground now, as it grows huge. It is usually treated as an annual but I put it in a pot because it can be perennial if it’s kept frost free. This is a fast growing climber which is easy from seed. You can get it in the more traditional yellow with a black eye or white or even pink. I love this orange one because it really glows.

Thunbergia alata ‘Orange Beauty‘

Thunbergia alata ‘Orange Beauty’

Oh dear, that seems to be seven plants, but I only included Pelargonium ‘Rosebud Apple Blossom’ to show you Queen Victoria’s favourite, so let’s not count it.

As usual Six on Saturday is hosted by Jim at Garden Ruminations who always has interesting plants to show us. And of course, here you’ll find links to keen gardeners round the world who share their seasonal beauties.