JungleSeeds

A spectacular annual shrub like plant best treated as an annual in the UK. Huge 6” hibiscus like yellow blooms with a maroon central blotch. They do need heat to get going but a 6ft Abelmoschus plant with side shoots covered in these gorgeous blooms is achievable in a single season from seed. Very fast growing in heat, the large, attractive leaves can be used in salads, stir-fries, soups or other dishes.  A single leaf can cover a slice of bread in a sandwich and is used like lettuce.  The leaves are tender when raw but turn slimy if overcooked.  They are very high in nutrition.

The Musk Mallow can be easily grown in a rich well-drained soil in a sunny position. They will tolerate temperatures down to about -5°c and can be grown outdoors in the milder areas of the country. The plant grows as a shrub in frost-free climates reaching 5 to 6ft. Pretty pink or red flowers 3” to 4” across.

A cultivated dwarf form of Abelmoschus used for unusual bedding in a warm, sunny position. They form neat exotic spreading bushes 12” to 18” of deep green foliage covered with numerous white-centred, orange-scarlet or light pink, Hibiscus-like blooms, each 3 to 4 inches across.

Hybrid Abutilons make lovely conservatory plants. For 2006 we offer a mixed colour range of a new dwarf F1 hybrid suitable for summer bedding and over wintering under glass as a pot plant. Huge 10cm flowers in Apricot, Coral, Pink, Red, Salmon and White. New seed variety with terrific customer feedback but expensive to source.

The huge elephant ear shaped leaves of Macrorrhiza will tolerate temperatures down to frost level, but the root stock which also readily suckers can take maybe 10 degrees of frost if the crown is protected. I over winter mine in a frost free greenhouse ready for planting out as summer bedding. This Alocasia will grow to 15ft in it's normal habitat but smaller if grown in pots.

What a fantastic 3ft tall 2ft wide flower and a must for any tropical enthusiast. Often used as a food crop in many parts of the world by cooking the large tuber which can weigh up to 5kg on a five year old plant. It produces a single leaf and has one of the largest flowers in the world although the smell necessary to attract pollinating flies is something awful. It will take a few years to reach flowering size but first year seedlings will produce attractive 3 or 4 tropical, 2ft tall umbrella like leaves. Store the tubers overwinter in the same way as gloxinia or caladium in a warm position.

Asparagus Plumosas - An attractive fern like climber used by florists in bouquets with carnations etc. Non climbing in it's juvenile stage it makes a  small bushy house plant but eventually turn into a ferny climber, albeit with thorny stems.

Asparagus Sprengeri - This evergreen arching perennial has feathery, needle-like, trailing green foliage giving an open, loose appearance in growth. In summer the plant has small white flowers that are followed by bright red berries. The plant can grow 24 to 36 inches in height and to a width of 3 to 4 ft. It will grow in sun or even fairly dense shade, however, it would prefer some shade to maintain a darker green colour leaf

Asparagus Myersii - Evergreen arching perennial supports cylindrical sprays. The plant can grow to 4ft in height and to a width of 3 to 4 feet. It will grow in sun or even fairly dense shade, however maintaining a darker green colour leaf in shade.

A scandent shrub from South Africa, easy to cultivate and requires little attention once established. The leaves are two-lobed, resembling a butterfly in shape, and 2-3 cm long. It bears a profusion of red flowers about 2-5 cm in diameter. Suitable for cool house but well worth trying outside in milder areas as if it is cut down by frost it can sprout again from the base. It produces its brick red flowers for a long period during the summer months from September to March but will also flower sporadically throughout the rest of the year.  Certain butterfly larvae feed on the leaves which might be useful for breeding tropical butterflies. Seeds germinate easily.

The Purple Orchid Tree is an exotic tropical tree that blooms over a long period of time. The flower is purple and orchid-like in appearance, though not related to actual orchids. The foliage is light green and deeply notched at the tip. Bauhinia purpurea can reach up to 20 feet tall but smaller if pot grown. Easy to raise from seed.

Bixa orellana is a useful and very ornamental single or multi stemmed small tree to 6m, that can be kept smaller in a pot for conservatory or greenhouse use.  The terminal racemes of flowers in red, pink or white appear on the branch tips followed by bright red fruits of soft spiny capsules containing many seeds. Our seed taken from ornamental plants exhibits bright scarlet seed pods on two year old or more plants. A novelty plant as well as an excellent flowering ornamental that can be even used as a replacement for lipstick!!

Native to tropical America, Annatto, obtained from the oily arils of the seeds is the world's second most important (after caramel) natural colorant, yielding yellow to red colours. Not only was the dye used anciently to colour food, but also to dye cloth and paint the skin (which is still done today). The pulp surrounding the seeds is widely used in herbal medicine to treat a number of problems. The seeds are processed to obtain the orange-yellow pigments, bixin and norbixin (caratenoids), as dye for the food, cosmetic and soap industries. Traditionally, the crushed seeds are soaked in water that is allowed to evaporate. A brightly coloured paste is then made. In the 17th century the colour was used to darken chocolate. Worldwide trade in this plant has introduced it as a colouring to rice, meat, stews and stir-fries in many parts of the world, including Asia, and Africa, and is still widely used in South America and the Caribbean.

The tree wisteria is certainly one of the most spectacular of South Africa’s indigenous trees when in flower, mimicking the splendour of the jacaranda. This decorative, small to medium-sized tree is deciduous, dropping its leaves only for a short period in early spring. Normally multi-stemmed, so ideal for pot growing, the drooping, blue-mauve, fragrant, pea-like flowers hang from the branches in bunches, often covering the whole tree. Flowering time is from spring to early summer.

One of my favourite shrubs to grow in the conservatory, greenhouse or a favoured position indoors. The plant gets its name from the flowers that fade to almost white over three days. Dislikes full sun and is relatively pest free. Almost Bonsai in its habit as it ages with woody stems

Useful mix of cactus for anyone with a panache for spikes embedded in your fingers while potting up! Seriously though the flowers can be wonderful on a well grown cactus, they are easy to look after, and especially tolerant of dry conditions.

Useful mix of Opuntia cactus many of which produce edible fruit.

Spectacular, orange-red, exotic flowers lend a tropical effect to this well-adapted desert shrub. Can reach 6ft. high & wide in frost-free areas. Flowers constantly from spring to autumn. Fast growing, heat and alkaline tolerant. Lightly sand the seeds and soak in water for 6-8 hours, then germinate at 20-26°C.

Spectacular, orange-red, exotic flowers lend a tropical effect to this well-adapted A rambling shrub or small tree with branched pinnate, silky leaves and powder-puff-like balls of conspicuous dark crimson stamens. Fantastic looking shrub that can be grown and flowered in a pot with greenhouse protection.

Native to Southern India, Java, Malaysia, the Philippines and other Pacific islands, the Cananga odorata is the true Chanel No.5 Perfume Tree. Its common name is Ylang-Ylang, pronounced (ee-lang ee-lang) and is among the most celebrated flowering trees in the world, made famous by Coco Chanel. The tree flowers at a young age so worth a try as a pot plant in a conservatory. The flowers smell just like Chanel No. 5. The hard seed can be erratic in germination.

A shrub to 3 metres high but smaller if pot grown. The bright yellow flowers are grouped in upright inflorescences, up to 30 centimetres long, arranged at the end of a long bent stalk. This plant is native of tropical Africa, widely used as an ornamental species in tropical and sub-tropical gardens for the chromatic effect of its flowers.

Cassia trees are well known all over the tropics for their showy clusters of laburnum like flowers. This one is probably the best known with large pinnate leaves and scented flowers. A lovely small tree if you have a large conservatory to try growing it in.

This plant has one of the strongest fragrances around in the evening, when the scent becomes almost intoxicating. A common misconception is that it is only fragrant at night, however you can still smell a light scent all day long which increases in intensity into the evening. They bloom on and off during the warmer months of the year and grow quickly so regular pruning will be needed to keep it contained.

A Common Citrus for growing in doors as it a small shrub rarely growing larger than 3 to 4ft. It produces beautiful fragrant orange blossom in the spring followed by small "tart" oranges. It may take a few years from seed to start to blossom but well worth the wait.

A most unusual shrub like plant that I first grew back in the 70's after acquiring seed from a retired Army Major. This rarely offered seed comes from the Philippines and it produces a tall fast growing soft shrub with large soft leaves and huge 19" columns of small scarlet flower clusters that last for weeks. The plant suckers easily and produces some new shoots from the base like many other Clerodendrums. Best in a sunny well ventilated but humid atmosphere to avoid mildew damage to the delicate flower clusters. More cool hardy than originally thought and easy to over winter in a heated conservatory or greenhouse.

Excellent house plant with thick dark green leaves contrasting vividly with the large heads of bright salmon red flowers. Easy to raise from seed but it does take a few years to reach flowering size - hence the "yellow" flag.

An opportunity to purchase seed of a rare variegated yellow/green leafed hybrid. Excellent house plant with large heads of bright orange red flowers. Easy to raise from seed but it does take a few years to reach flowering size but in the interim the attractive foliage brings its own rewards.

A useful grass like plant for indoor use given plenty of light. Like it's sister the Papyrus it needs plenty of water to do well. Grows to about 2ft and easy from seed. A tough plant that only needs an occasional light trim of dead leaf stalks.

The national tree of Costa Rica is a fast growing member of the mimosa family, known for its glamorous feathery foliage.  The common name "Elephant's Ear" derives from the ear shaped seed pods used for decoration. Useful as a fast growing pot plant in a heated conservatory or greenhouse with large fern like leaves it will handle drier conditions than most tropical trees.

A lovely, small to medium-sized, deciduous tree with a spreading crown and brilliant red flowers. It is a handsome tree at any time of the year, and its dazzling flowers have made it one of the best known and widely grown South African trees. The flowers a