You would literally hear gardeners swear & curse this one for being an invasive and a stubborn as it seemed - it is impossible to totally remove them from the garden. They produce tuberous roots that embedded deep into the soil. I wouldn't recommend this to be planted on the soil-bed unless you want this one to be permanently settled in your garden or yard.
Its known as Jewels of Opar or Fameflower.
(Talinum paniculatum)
I have seen a variegated species of this where the leaves are green & cream.
The plus point you can have this plant for these reasons:
1) One of the best beginners plants - its impossible to kill.
They are drought tolerant.
So if you do not have the time to water your plants everyday - this is my best recommendation.
They can handle neglect even for years.
2) Once the plant matures -
it will give out a spike of flowers that blooms continually
(The flower only blooms in the evening - so do take time to enjoy it when it blooms)
3) Finally - The leaves are edible.
You can use them for cooking or salads.
Though a lot have been said about their invasive issues. I found that mostly none of the seeds had sprouted anywhere. The plant stay put where I plant them using cuttings. Most of them had gone dormant ( I guess they require pruning in order for them to rejuvenate a new spikes - or the whole plant is concentrating in expanding its tuber buried need in the potted soil.
Jewels of Opar in the afternoon. (above) Flower buds.
(below) Fully bloomed with seed heads.
I really didn't pay much attention to these Anthuriums.
I would say that they are quite a survivor.
They do need good shaded area - too much sunlight will cause sunburn. Total shade may be good but you might have to discount the flowers. I had this plant for years without any promising blooms.
If you love Anthuriums - then I guess you need to place them in garden where it is optimum for them. Most cases when you purchase them you will find many plantlets coiled around the mother plant.
You may need to take time to remove all of the little ones into a separate planter box and keep the main flowering one for optimum blooming result.
Again - after few months later - you will find the same situation repeat again.
The reason you need to do this is that if you don't - the plant will choke itself and slowly die.
(and as I said - this is so suspectable for neglect & before you know it - the plant had already disappeared)
If you have this plant established in your garden - Then I would congratulate you for the plant is now a hardy plant in your garden.
One of the joys of having a Cane Begonia is apart from the beautiful foliage - you get the glorious blooms. The flowers does so well in shaded area. I guess it would be much redder if this is located more to a sunny spot.
The best part of its hardiness is that it is pest free.
This is another variety of Cane Begonia (Marroon Leaf) with blooms.
The flowers are less showy compared to the first one.
This particular variety of rose seemed to be doing so well.
It had matured and been blooming continuously.
A friend of mine had passed me this Orchid Cactus. Seemed to be an odd one out in my garden collection & I still haven't figure out how to find a nice defined location for this one.
It had beautifully had send out a flower spike which I really took pride & joy while taking this picture.
The next day - this plant had abandoned the flower as I noticed it fallen on the ground. I suspect that is had already bloomed in the night and the flower had spend its optimum blooming time.
These are the rest of the collection which have become part of the permanent resident of ever-blooming, non-stop, continuous flowering plants which I now have become so used to it that I barely notice them.
I guess I had missed out some few species which I now realise that I didn't take those pictures.
(They seemed to appear in the pictures - just like I had taken those picture few months ago - like there is no difference in bloom compared to the past posting pictures and now)
I'm pretty sure I'm not being ambitious in having my garden in its top pristine condition.
As long as they are healthy, blooming and without pest/disease and not dying.
They are good enough to consider them as hardy plants.
What are your hardy / difficult to kill / established plants that makes them your permanent resident in your garden?
That you cannot do without them & that they are your garden signature?
