Getting the Blues

[charlie]

Sorry I couldn't resist a picture my Ipomoea indica has just started flowering

003 by charliepridham, on Flickr

[LONGK]

I have a soft spot for Ipomea, but that is outstanding with the darker foliage!

[DaveP]

Despite it being something of a pan-tropical weed, I really love this. I used to have it growing outside here (before the winter and it would find its own spot for overwintering. It never quite appeared in the same place each year, but it was usually persuaded to move over. I must replant at some stage - I miss its intense colour.

[charlie]

I am just loving this summer! Tibouchina has started flowering already

tibouchina urvilliana by charliepridham, on Flickr

[conrad]

One I planted last year didn't really get going until quite late in the summer and sadly didn't get the chance to flower.
It didn't make it through the winter but I think it just hadn't established itself enough before the cold arrived. I'll have to give it a try again if I can track one down but might keep it in a pot until I have enough left to spare a piece outside.

[charlie]

Conrad unless you are very mild its not really worth planting Tibouchina out, they just don't get going in time to flower (although they always seem to survive) so I maintain a pot full that comes in and only when its getting old do I plant it out for one last season, starting off a new one, I now have several clumps of this that get to around 18 inches each year but don't flower!

[conrad]

Ooops sorry Charlie, I wasn't clear about which plant I was talking about above, I was referring to an Ipomoea indica that I killed.

[LONGK]

Not sure if this is hijacking your thread, but for my money one of the best bursts of blue in the garden is Sollya heterophylla (not the best photo).....................



Despite the flowers being small, when it's in full bloom it really is a sea of blue!

Gave up in Tibouchina a couple of years ago as it always seemed to get too leggy for me. I miss the spectacular blooms though.