Sometimes when we visit -or shopping- to a nursery we find some plants that we had not seen before and that attract our attention. They may resemble others, but when we stop to observe them carefully we realize how rare they are.
They are those that, although they tend to have a slightly higher price, you want to take home and try to grow them well. Are the Exotic plants. But what are they?
Protea cynaroides, a shrub native to tropical Africa that grows to 60cm and produces highly decorative inflorescences.
Taking into account that certain plants live in every part of the world, the concept of »exotic plants» has a subjective tint. Let me explain: where I live (Mallorca, Balearic Islands) it is very easy to find cacti and succulents of all kinds for sale; However, it is quite difficult to find different species of maples, so these trees are considered exotic trees, since they are also usually expensive when they are put up for sale. Why? Because they are not adapted to the Mediterranean climate, and their cultivation is not easy.
Therefore, we could say that exotic plants are those that we are not used to seeing in nurseries in our area. And, as a consequence, they are the ones that often attract our attention.
Examples of plants that are considered exotic (in some places)
Adenium obese
Adenium obese
La Desert Rose It is a caudiciform plant native to the tropical east and south of Africa and Arabia. It grows to a height of 3m with a trunk thickness of 50-60cm, but having a slow growth rate and a non-invasive root system, can be grown in a pot during all his life.
Aloe polyphylla
Aloe polyphylla
Spiral Aloe hails from South Africa, where the climate is warm, with no frosts. It is characterized by grow in a spiral shapewhich gives it a very striking appearance. It reaches a height of 40cm, and a diameter of 50cm, although it takes several years.
Strelitzia juncea
Strelitzia juncea
The Strelitzia juncea o Bird of Paradise Flower is native to South Africa. It is very curious, since instead of having flat leaves, it has cylindrical ones, which gives them a “reed” appearance. It grows to a height of 60cm, and it is able to withstand mild frosts down to -2ºC.
chantrieri notch
Notch canthrieri
La Bat Flower It is a perennial herbaceous plant native to the tropical jungles of Asia that grows up to 70cm in height. You can have it like exotic indoor plant as it adapts well to household conditions.
Veitchia merilli
Veitchia merilli
The Christmas Palm is a plant that grows naturally in the Philippines, but today it can be found in all tropical and subtropical gardens in the world. It reaches a height of 6 meters, with a trunk thickness of up to 25cm, so that you can have it in a pot smoothly.
What do you think of these plants?
