JungleSeeds

Conservatory D- N

Conservatory & Stove Plants

With the recent growth of heated conservatories in the UK, many of you are now able to grow exotic stove plants that in the past were the exclusive domain of green fingered tropical enthusiasts. I have chosen a selection of easy and difficult plants many that I have personally grown over the years, but deliberately excluded items I found impossible, despite the many seed catalogue assurances to the contrary. I hope this brings another dimension to your exotic collection that can be appreciated during the winter months in your conservatory, greenhouse or even in a sunny window.

Dendroseris litoralis

JS2623

A very rare tree!

Cabbage Tree 3 seeds ■☻

This unusual plant comes from a small, isolated group of islands 400 miles off the coast of Chile with temperatures typically 10C to 25C. At one point there were only 3 plants left in the late 1980s, and today it is still critically endangered. It is usually only found in botanical gardens, making it one of the rarest plants in cultivation. If you can provide the right conditions, it will be an exciting plant to grow.

It is an evergreen, perennial species in the daisy and sunflower family. It's unusual in that it has woody, tree-like stems, and rubbery, tennis racket-sized edible leaves (hence the common name) up to 18" long. It grows to about 6ft if pot grown in cool conservatory or greenhouse conditions kept frost free.

Dombeya calantha

JS2919

New for 2011!

Pink Ball Shrub 5 Seeds ■☻

Dombeya are members of the Malvacea family from Africa and only recently coming in to cultivation, cool tolerant they make large shrubs to small trees that can be kept pruned to size for heated conservatory use. They produce large pink clusters of flowers that resemble balls or umbels to 12" across.

Duranta repens

JS2770

Sky Flower 10 seeds ■☻

A large subtropical shrub to 20ft, native from Florida to Brazil and the Caribbean islands. However it flowers when quite small and is useful in containers. The pale blue small flowers are produced in clusters at the end of arching stems and their mild, sweet fragrance is attractive to butterflies. Plants flower more profusely under full-sun conditions but easy to grow.

Enterolobium cyclocarpus

JS1228

Larger picture

Elephants Ear Tree 5 large seeds ■☻

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.

Erythrina lysistemon

JS1752

Larger picture

Common Coral Tree 10 seeds ■☻җ

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 are a beautiful clear scarlet and are carried in short, dense heads, about 9 cm long, on long, thick stalks. The flowers produce abundant nectar that attracts many nectar-feeding birds and insects. It is easily cultivated from seed and grows rapidly. It is sensitive to severe cold but may be successfully grown in areas where light frost occurs, provided it is put in a sheltered corner. Flowering is best though where the spring is hot and dry or used in a dry conservatory position.

Fuchsia boliviana

JS3202

New for 2012!

Bolivian Fuchsia 20 seeds ■☻

Many consider this one of the most beautiful fuchsia's, it attains small tree proportions to perhaps 15-25ft but smaller in pots. Growth is in a spreading, somewhat shrubby habit. Also hardy to about -3C in short bursts, though protection should be provided for long temperature spells below freezing. It grows well in shady or part sun and thrives in cooler damp subtropical conditions, best protected from full sun. The flowers are similar to the often seen Fuchsia triphylla but with huge flowers to 20cm long.

Gardenia Jasminoides

JS1681

Larger picture

New low price!

Gardenia 20 seeds ■☻

The well known florists Gardenia with pure white double flowers and a scent that will fill a room from a single bloom. Prefers soft water conditions and dislikes alkaline potting compost. It can be successfully grown in doors but they seem to do better in semi shade in a warm humid conservatory or greenhouse and brought indoors while in flower. One of our favourite greenhouse shrubs.

Gardenia thunbergia

JS2772

Rarely Obtained Seed!

Wild Gardenia 10 seeds ■☻

This is a slow growing evergreen shrub or small tree to 1m or 2m if pot grown. It is hardier than the common pot grown plant down to frost level for brief periods and suitable for unheated conservatories. The leaves are carried in whorls of 3 or 4 crowded near the ends of the branchlets and the flowers are large, showy, creamy white and heavily perfumed, particularly at night. It may take a few years before large enough to flower though! A very popular but expensive plant in California.

Gloriosa rothschildiana

JS351

Larger picture

Glory Lily 10 seeds ■☻

A beautiful climbing Lily with stunning crimson and yellow flowers. Best grown each year from the fat underground tubers, which are delicate and need storing dry in a warm place indoors before starting into growth again the following spring. Easily grown from seed it will attain 5ft to 6ft in a large pot in a sunny position given rich soil.

Gmenila asiatica

JS1647

Larger picture

Asian Bush Beech 10 seeds ■☻

A shrub often used in hedging in the tropics because of the small spines at the leaf axles, but these are not really a problem and far less thorny than bougainvillea! It grows quite quickly and produces terminal flower clusters in yellow and brown which is what caught our eye in Barbados. Peculiar seeds that do not look viable but fairly easy from seed and the plant can be kept in trim with pruning.

Hamelia Patens

JS2313

Larger picture

Firebush 10 seeds ■☻

Hamelia patens, a fast growing scrambling shrub like plant, flowers late spring to early autumn and the flowers are bright orangish-red borne in clusters. The stems and flower stalks also have a red hue. The Firebush from Mexico is heat and drought tolerant and requires good drainage and a hot sunny position. Very popular with butterfly collectors that love the nectar. (The butterflies not the collectors!)

Hibiscus mutabilis

JS2901

Confederate Rose 10 seeds

A large shrub or small multistemmed tree that grows to 15 ft in a warm climate and a native of China. Hibiscus mutabilis will need a warm glasshouse in the UK to over winter but is spectacular when in full bloom starting in late summer and on into autumn. The flowers open pure white and change colour over a three-day period until they are deep pink. The most notable characteristic of this flowering shrub is that flowers of three distinct colours appear on the bush simultaneously as the blooms colour cycle independent of one another.

Hibiscus tiliacius

JS2997

Beach Hibiscus 10 seeds ■☻

This Hibiscus is a tropical evergreen shrub, or small spreading tree that can reach up to about 15 foot tall and wide but much smaller if pot grown and kept pruned. The large 10cm flowers open up and start out yellow and then as the day progresses they turn to orange. The flowers and young leaves are edible but the plant likes a well drained compost and a sunny location. Easy to grow from seeds and should make a good conservatory plant with its handsome large leaves.

Holmskioldia sanguinea

JS3201

New for 2012!

Chinese Hat Plant 10 seeds ■☻

The unusual orange flowers, looking like a mandarin's hat, are the main interest of this scrambling greenhouse shrub. They appear in dense terminal clusters through autumn and winter. The mid-green leaves are oval and slightly serrated. Growth habit is similar to plumbago capensis with long scandent training shoots. Rampant growth can be contained by pruning after flowering and old canes can be removed. This plant requires full sun but will bloom in filtered light.

Hypoestes confetti series

JS630

Larger picture

Polka dot Plant 20 seeds ■☻

Easy growing colourful foliage plant for pot work or spot summer bedding. We offer a mixed colour spot range.

Ipomoea Carnea

JS2769

Rarely Obtained Seed!

Bush Morning Glory 10 seeds ■☻

A large leafed tropical bush version of Ipomoea seen throughout the Caribbean and should be useful in this country as a large annual for summer bedding or for conservatory use. The large pink or white flowers are a classic morning glory type fading by the late afternoon as they close. Flowers produced in dense clusters making a great show if given enough sun. In our trials the large quick growing plants reached 6ft by september under glass from a March sowing.

Ixora coccinea Red

JS1550

Larger picture

Ixora - Jungle Geranium Red 10 seeds ■☻

We have managed to find a source of fresh seed for Ixora, a bushy, rounded shrub that has long been a popular hedging plant in subtropical and tropical areas. Ixoras freely produce loose, corymb-like cymes, 2-5" across of red, orange, pink, or yellow flowers. This plant is a member of the Rubiaceae family which includes the Coffee plant and Gardenia. An excellent tropical pot plant subject, but feed with trace elements as it can suffer from iron deficiency.

Ixora coccinea Yellow

JS2031

Larger picture

Ixora - Jungle Geranium Yellow 10 seeds ■☻

Jacaranda cuspidifolia

JS3226

New for 2012!

Purple Jacaranda 10 seeds ■☻

A Brazilian dry savannah species of Jacaranda with deeper, purple/blue flowers than mimosifolia held in clusters. Said to be fractionally hardier and not quite so tall to 25 metres in tropical conditions. A rare tree that flowers earlier than mimosifolia after perhaps two to three years in ideal conditions. Worth a try as a pot plant for its attractive ferny foliage and possible flowers in a large conservatory. Frost tolerant as an established tree to -3c

Jacaranda mimosifolia

JS632

Jacaranda 15 seeds ■☻

A common tree for tropical locations with soft ferny foliage and spectacular lilac blue flowers a bit like upright laburnum or the Paulownia in shape. A tree in full flower is a sight not to be missed! Easy to grow from seed but difficult to reach flowering size in the uk unless you have a very tall heated conservatory. Can be pot grown and stood outside in summer until it gets too large. Worth growing for the foliage alone.

Jatropha podagrica

JS2023

Larger picture

Limited Availability!

Buddhas Belly 5 seeds ■☻

This unusual desert plant of the Euphorbia family has a small woody trunk or tuber swollen at the base, like Buddha s belly with a few leaves and flowers out of the top. I bears clusters of bright red blooms during spring and autumn, likes a sunny spot and copes well with dry air. Excellent for containers or bonsai.

Lagerstroemia indica

JS984

Larger picture

Crepe Myrtle mixed colours 10 seeds ■☻җ

An ideal conservatory plant, this highly ornamental, deciduous shrub or small tree from Asia bears large panicles of lovely white, pink or purple flowers with crinkled petals. It should flower the second year from seed, but can be kept pruned to keep it to a sensible size, as it flowers on the old wood in early summer. Maybe hardy in mild areas to -5˚C

Lagerstroemia indica - Little Chief

JS1189

Larger picture

Dwarf Crepe Myrtle with purple flowers 10 seeds ■☻җ

If you do not have room inside or the location for a Lagerstroemia outside (in a warm micro climate), then this cultivar originating out of America, is an excellent alternative. Little Chief is a dwarf form of lagerstroemia indica growing only to a height of 1m with shades of purple flowers. An outstanding pot plant, flowering within 4 months from seed.

Maranta arundinacea

JS2644

Arrowroot 10 Seeds ■☻

One for the heated conservatory where it will make a handsome foliage plant. Maranta arundinacea, is cultivated commercially for its starch-storing rhizome. Because this very nutritious starch is so readily digested, it is often fed to infants, invalids, and those allergic to wheat. The name arrowroot derives from its past medicinal use as a poultice to remove arrow poison from wounds. So if you come home from a bad day at work with poisoned arrows in your back this is just what you need!

Melastoma malabathricum

JS3222

New for 2012!

Blue Tongue Aprx 20 tiny seeds ■☻

A small shrub from South East Asia and Australasia with hairy leaves and 2" to 3" purple/pink flowers reminiscent of Tibouchina. Quite a tough plant once raised to a sensible size from the tiny seed as long as the temperature does not fall below 10C. A good warm conservatory plant.

The seeds are tasteless and can be eaten, but stains the tongue black, hence the name melastoma which in Greek means "black mouth". The young leaves are eaten raw or cooked and taste sour for traditional medicinal uses including treatment for diarrhoea, dysentery, ulcers and to treat piles. (Please do not try eating any part of this plant)

Nepenthes gracilis

JS2766

Slender Pitcher Plant 10 small seeds ■☻

Nepenthes gracilis is a lowland quite widespread pitcher plant from SE Asia. Its latin name describes the long slender leaves characteristic of this species. It is a relatively easy species to grow and should be able to adapt to lower humidity with time, but high humidity and warmth will be needed in the initial stages.

Nepenthes hookeriana

JS2768

Hybrid Pitcher Plant 10 small seeds ■☻

A lowland pitcher plant Nepenthes × hookeriana is a common natural hybrid derived from rafflesiana ampullaria and was originally described as a species. It is a relatively common plant found in lowland conditions throughout Peninsular Malaysia, Borneo, Singapore and the Indonesian island of Sumatra. Like its parental species, the hybrid is generally found in recently disturbed clearings. This plant will need warm greenhouse humid conditions.

Nepenthes khasiana

JS2765

Indian Pitcher plant 10 small seeds ■☻

Nepenthes khasiana is a tough species from mountain regions in India that experiences quite cold conditions at times. It is very easy to grow and does well as a house plant growing to several feet tall with large leaves, and the pitchers can be over 12 inches in length. These grow best in temperatures from 18C - 30C with the humidity above 60%. Cuttings can be a bit tricky to get to work but worth a try from seeds.

Nepenthes reinwardtiana

JS2767

Sumatra Pitcher Plant 10 small seeds ■☻

Nepenthes reinwardtiana is a widespread species, and is found in a variety of habitats, including roadside embankments, lowland rainforest, exposed rock faces and cleared areas. Highland varieties may be located in mossy forest growing as epiphytes. The large pitcher colouration varies from green to dark red. This species is distinguished by the usual presence of 2 waxy eyespots on the inside of the pitcher

Nerium oleander

JS179

Larger picture

SEEDS & PLANTS POISONOUS

Oleander Bush Mixed Colours Pkt ■☻җ

This well known shrub seen all over the South of France is a tough one, very tolerant of dry conditions and flowers profusely in full sun. The seed offered is mixed hybrids, but you may have to wait until the second year to see what colours you have grown. Easily over wintered in a cool or cold greenhouse as it will take a light frost without any serious damage.