JungleSeeds
JungleSeeds&Gardens - Specialists in Exotic Seeds & Plants
Novelty Plants
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JungleSeeds JungleSeeds&Gardens - Specialists in Exotic Seeds & Plants |
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Novelty Plants |
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SEED_CATEGORIES
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Novelty Plants |
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Adansonia digitata 5 seeds £3.99 JS1923 |
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Regarded as the largest succulent plant in the world, the baobab tree is steeped in a wealth of mystique, legend and superstition wherever it occurs in Africa. The main stem of larger baobab trees may reach enormous proportions of up to 90ft in girth. The massive, usually squat, cylindrical trunk gives rise to thick tapering branches resembling a root-system, which is why it has often been referred to as the upside-down tree. There is a tale which tells of how God planted them upside-down. Many traditional Africans believe that the baobab actually grows upside-down. Can be grown as an unusual house plant bonsai but the trick is not to water the plant at all from leaf fall to new growth emergence in spring. In its native land it only gets rain for 3 days a year! |
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Arachis hypogaea 15 seeds £1.79 JS1489 |
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Monkey nuts are neat plants resembling clovers. They can grow to 10 feet high but much smaller in pots with pretty yellow male flowers. The novelty is the female flower that sends out an aerial “peg” that extends all the way down to the soil, buries into the soil and produces up to four peanut seed pods 2” to 6” deep at the tip of each “peg”. Fascinating if you have not grown them before. |
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Bambusa
arundinacea |
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A very popular jungle (Not hardy!)
bamboo mainly from tropical Asia, clump forming and very tall reaching
up to 30m high and culms 15-18cm in diameter. If you have room for some
fun, have a go at this giant. The young shoots are edible but the plant
is mainly used for building materials using the huge canes. |
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Camellia
sinensis |
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Always wanted to grow your own tea and coffee? Well here’s your chance, with this plant grown for tea in Sri Lanka and India. It is a member of the Camellia family with white flowers preferring warm damp conditions but no frost. I have read that the first commercial tea plantation is being considered in Cornwall now taking advantage of Global warming. Please Note:- Fresh seed available winter/spring |
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Coffee
arabica |
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Such a well known commodity! But did you know that the plants make interesting house or conservatory shrubs with dark glossy green leaves, small white scented flower clusters followed by bright red coffee beans. Don't get too excited though about grinding your own coffee from the seed - it tastes awful if you do not dry it correctly! Eventually reaches 8ft, growing about 6" a year. |
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Cyperus
papyrus |
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Egyptian papyrus reed with the original paper made from the crushed and pulped stems. Easy to grow reaching 6ft to 7ft when mature. In the first year it makes a more manageable 3ft and is easy to grow from seed. Remember that it is a water reed and ideally will need to be left standing with the pot in tray of water. A decorative plant that we often grow as part of our summer bedding in a tropical border. |
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Delonix
Regia |
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From popular demand we have added this magnificent tropical tree to our novelty seed list. This large tree flowers profusely in spring with sprays of scarlet flowers all over the bare branches before the new leaves emerge. It requires really hot dry conditions and is very difficult to keep alive over winter even in a heated greenhouse. The leaves though are attractive, similar to a jacaranda, making an interesting summer pot plant. I have placed this seed in the novelty section as prospects of it reaching flowering size in the UK are pretty remote. The tree bears long 2ft fruiting bean pods that I used to place in a "magic" circle when my daughter was an infant, anyone standing inside immediately became invisible - it was a magic tropical holiday game that she still remembers at 17! |
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Dendrocalamus giganteus |
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Giganteus is the worlds largest Bamboo growing to 100 metres in the tropics with huge culms. Said to be hardy to -2°C when mature! |
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Dendrocalamus strictus |
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An interesting novelty to try from India, Iron Bamboo is a giant grass which flowers, goes to seed and dies approximately every 60 years. Plants grown from seed reach full size in seven to ten years, possibly reaching a height of 50 feet and producing culms at maturity of four inches in diameter. Iron Bamboo grows in clumps approximately six feet in diameter. It is a sympodial bamboo and does not “run” underground, as do monopodial bamboos common to the temperate climate. When shooting, culms often grow as much as a foot each day and develop 85% of their strength in the first year. At the end of the second year, the culms have achieved 95% of their ultimate physical properties. Iron Bamboo is the world’s premier bamboo for furniture manufacturing, since unlike thin-walled, hollow bamboo, it does not split when fastened with screws and nails. Its “nail-ability” and the fact that it rarely develops external surface cracks as it dries makes it a preferred structural material for buildings and fences, as well as for furniture. (Not hardy!) |
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Desmodium gyrans 10 seeds £2.07 JS1989 |
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Another really unusual plant that actually moves its leaves about under certain conditions. Small lateral leaflets rotate on their axes and jerk up and down within a period of about 3 to 5 minutes early in the morning as the sun warms the plant to around 22°C. Patience may be needed to observe this phenomena but the plant is easy to raise from seed and soon makes a small shrub in a warm greenhouse. As far as we know the only four plants that show any leaf sensitivity movements are, Desmodium gyrans, Mimosa pudica the sensitive plant, Venus Fly Trap, and Averrhoa carambola the star fruit tree. |
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Dinosaur
Gourd |
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A very unusual club gourd with raised "veins" A new item for us and a real novelty that I will certainly be growing next year in our seed trials. |
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Dionaea
muscipula |
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This has got to be one for the kids, I remember as a child playing with one of these plants for many hours feeding it flies and small spiders, and seeing if I could react quick enough to miss my fingers once the trap had been triggered! Slow growing though from seed but worth the challenge to own one of these unusual novelties. |
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Ecballium
elaterium |
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Another plant for the masochists out there with mischievous young children, looking for suitable revenge! Rough sea-green leaves on wandering stems to 1m or more and yellowish flowers followed by exploding inedible mini ‘cucumbers’ from July to frosts. These fruits explode to the touch when ripe, squirting out a thick gooey mess of seeds. I have read that it is hardy to about -5°C! |
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Elettaria
cardamomum |
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A member of the Zingiber family, this well known tropical spice from India can grow to 12ft with typical ginger leaves. They need warm conditions and must not dry out and love rain nearly every day in their natural habitat. The Cardamom pods are not likely to develop in greenhouse conditions though but the plant is aromatic throughout the stems to leaves. Slow and erratic germination because of the hard seed coat. |
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Glycyrrhiza
glabra |
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This is the European plant that produces liquorice, used commercially for sweets, baking, ice cream and drinks, and in some medicines. The Egyptians used this plant for its healing properties and is one of the most widely used in Western Herbal Medicine. The roots are harvested at the 3-4 year stage from seed and boiled to extract the liquorice. Best grown under glass for the first winter planting out the following spring after frosts have finished. The plants (a member of the pea and bean family) require a deep loamy soil with roots that can reach 4ft in length! |
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Gossypium
hirsutum |
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The cotton plant easily grown from seed will flower in the first year with hollyhock like yellow and maroon flowers followed by seed heads that when mature burst open to reveal white bolls of the American or Upland Cotton. Grows to about 3ft. |
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Kale
Walking Stick |
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A great novelty vegetable that can reach over 6ft tall with a cluster of edible leaves at the top. At the end of the season the stems can be cut off and polished to make a walking stick. If the plants are left over winter in a mild season they may grow even taller to 10ft! |
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Large
Gourds |
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I have had great fun growing these again a few years ago in one of my greenhouses. Don't be fooled by the pictures these are monsters some up to 3ft long! Fully ripe and allowed to dry out in a warm room over winter they turn "wooden" making excellent Maraca ornaments that can be varnished or painted. |
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Luffa Bath Loofah
nS£ |
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This Gourd can be dried and the skin removed to produce the old bath Loofahs - do you remember these for scrubbing your back? Easy to grow from seed. |
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Mimosa pudica Sensitive
Plant
n£ |
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If you have small grandchildren or children you must try
growing this unusual plant. Only reaching 12" or so high it has delicate
ferny foliage and pretty small pink flowers. |
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Nelumbo nucifera Lotus
Blossom!
nSS£ |
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The Lotus is an aquatic plant requiring plenty of space and a full sun location to thrive. It is nothing less than spectacular in bloom, with soft pink blossom up to 8” across, opening on top of a stiff stalk emerging directly from below the water. The leaves are enormous, sometimes reaching 2ft across. You will need an indoor pond in a heated environment for this one! The seed can remain viable for up to 200 years but is tricky to germinate. We provide special germination and growing instructions. |
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Nepenthes gracilis Slender
Pitcher Plant
n£ |
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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. |
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Nepenthes hookeriana Hybrid
Pitcher Plant
n£ |
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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. |
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Nepenthes khasiana Indian
Pitcher Plant
n£ |
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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. |
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Nepenthes reinwardtiana Sumatra
Pitcher Plant
n£ |
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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 |
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Nicandra
physalodes |
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A fast-growing bushy plant reaching a height of 3ft to 4ft. It has large lobed leaves, and large pretty blue flowers, followed by papery seed pods containing a large berry which look similar to the Chinese lanterns. The common name refers to the fact that it is regarded as a deterrent to whitefly if mixed among other plants in a greenhouse or outdoor crops. Best grown as an annual |
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Ochroma
pyramidale |
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The Balsa Wood tree produces one of the lightest and strongest woods, pound for pound stronger even than oak and long used in model making. A handsome specimen for sunny tropical climates with huge 2ft diameter soft attractive leaves easily grown under glass. One of the fastest growing trees known but in our trials they only reached 6ft in the first year. The small seeds need a high temperature of around 30°C to 35°C to germinate. |
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Ornamental
Corn Fiesta |
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A hybrid mix of the best ornamental corn for dried decoration. This unique Indian corn includes various tones of blue, red, yellow and white. Earlier than other Flint corn and averages 7 to 10 inch ears with 50 to 70% having attractive ornamental purple husks. |
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Oryza
sativa |
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Grow your own Paddy field? This is the premium rice of Japan, distinguished by its aroma, sweet flavour and sticky texture. Also, dried stalks are beautiful displayed in flower arrangements. Harvest time about 5 months and contrary to expectations it does not need to be waterlogged to grow well, just regular watering! Worth a try for the novelty factor? Maturity: Approx. 160 days |
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Papaver
Somniferum Giganteum |
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These poppy flowers are beautiful and grace gardens world-wide. The pods are very popular in dried flower arrangements, and the seeds are commonly used in baking. Giganteum grows the largest seed heads of all larger than golf balls and more like the size of a snooker ball. |
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Rain Forest
Mix |
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If you want to try something different we offer a mix of more than 25 tree and shrub species native to tropical rain forest regions, all suitable for pot culture if you have warm humid conditions available, or as a short term house plant. A rare and exciting mix typically including (note not labelled separately):- Bixa orellana, Bolusanthus speciosus, Caesalpinia pulcherrima, Eugenia floribumda, Cananga Odorata, Cassia didymobotrya , Cassia fistula, Cyphomandra betacea, Delonix Regia, Dendrocalamus giganteus, Ensete ventricosum, Enterolobium cyclocarpus, Erthrina berteroana, Erythrina amazonica, Erythrina arborescens, Erythrina crista-galli, Erythrina lysistemon, Hymenosporum flavum, Jacaranda mimosifolia, Jatropha curcas, Jatropha multifida, Lagerstroemia indica, Lagerstroemia speciosa, Musa paradisiaca , Ochroma pyramidale, Psidium guajava, Schizolobium parahyba, Swietenia mahogani, Tabebuia rosea, Tamarindus indica, and Tectona grandis. (Note: Contents subject to availability) |
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Sarracenia
leucophylla |
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Sarracenia leucophylla is often called the most beautiful American pitcher plant, the leaves can reach a height of 80/100 cm with spectacular red veining and the hood is pure white also with red veins. The plant is able to tolerate a light frost and can be grown outside in the summer but best taken into a cold greenhouse over winter to protect it from severe frosts. Use a 50:50 peat/vermiculite mix and in the summer stand the pots in a shallow tray of water - they are bog plants! |
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Small
Gourds |
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These are more like small marrow plants with a wonderful colour range of ripe fruits to make a very ornamental bowl for the table. Easily grown in pots and planted out in the vegetable garden alongside your courgettes after all frosts have passed. The trailing vines can be trained up wigwam poles, a fence or left to run over the ground. |
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Solanum
mammosum |
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A small shrubby perennial that can be grown as an annual. Usually grown as an ornamental for its unique fruits, the plant also has a few medicinal properties. The juice of the fruit shows some detergent activity and can be used for washing clothing.The nipple fruit is related to the naranjilla and tomato, and the plant looks similar. Bushy shrub to 3-6ft capable of cold conditions if kept frost free. The pink-purple flowers develop during spring and are followed by the waxy, yellow colored fruit ripening a few months later. Fruits are poisonous. |
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Stevia
rebaudiana |
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Sweet herb of Paraguay (10 seeds Pr
Pkt) n£ |
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Swietenia
mahogany |
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Ahe original mahogany of commerce. Sometimes seen as a handsome shade tree in the tropics, but quite rare in the wild after over harvesting of the valuable timber. Shiny pinnate leaves make it an attractive small pot plant as a novelty. |
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Tacca
chantrieriá |
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A peculiar, black flowered tuberous based perennial, with a flower like bat wings, hence the name. This plant comes from monsoon rain forests, it will need a warm humid position to do well. A spectacular pot plant and a great talking point with your mother-in-law! We also offer the rare white form Tacca nivea. |
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Tacca nivea |
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A rare white form of the Bat Plant. These plants have got to be worth a try just for the novelty. Everyone I show a Bat plant to are simply amazed and usually have never seen one before. |
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Tectona
grandis |
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The original Teak of commerce. A
handsome tree in the tropics with large green/yellow leaves and tolerant
even of the occasional light frost. Makes a handsome pot plant with the
large leaves assuming that you get past these seed pre treatment
instructions I found on the internet. |
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Symbol Code Germination --- Easy n, Moderate n and Challenging n Backlog for Fresh Seed --- u New Seeds not in Catalogue ---« Hardiness --- ] (To -5°C) ]] (To -10°C) ]]] (To -15°C) Growing Symbols --- £ Sunny position £ Shady position S Lots of Water |
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