Hi folks, thanks for the imput you all gave me. I thought after I posted I wished I hadn't as I had visions of being literally laughed off the forum for my desire to have a go at such unexpected plants, so thanks for not doing that!! I just find plants such a fascination and to have a go at things that I am technically not supposed to grow often gets the better of me. My husband just smiles and says, what ever next?! hehe! Mmmmh, surprising how different reports can give conflicting feedback, as I said one well known site said Sealing Waxes are very east to germinate. Was thinking of going down the 'seed line' of obtaining these plant as they are readily availabe online and have never ever seen either for sale as actual plants over here, far to way out and tropical!! Have read about the Flame Thrower also, they are also stunning, will investigate! Kew is on our ever growing list of places to visit, not managed it yet even though its in the UK!! They grow some amazing stuff down there and also the Eden Project in Cornwall.....thats on the list too. Ony seen the Travellers in Singapore, they were amazing and are a banana relative not a plam I understand. Have a 5ft Strelitzia R in the g/h getting bigger by the day, but no flowers yet. Rescued it from the 'dead and dying trolley' in DIY store several years ago...another weakness of mine! Cheers anyway guys, best of wishes. Look forward to those pics Stan. Gill.

Hi Had an opportunity to watch these plants installed by professional landscapers at a one story office building. They surprised me by planting in a row "Hedge like" About 10 feet over centers. Total of 15 plants. They underplanted with Ixora and for a short time had a spectacular effect. As would be expected the winds shred the leaves and older leaves were removed giving a ragged appearence as they began to trunk the Ixora was removed so they could get underneath to remove the larger leaves. Then the hurricanes hit knocking all but 3 down. Then of course they began to "pup" spreading horizontally pushing the sidewalk up. About two months ago they were removed ,replaced with palms. Was hoping to see a good "plan " for growing them lol I have noted a couple planted in the center of a yard where the fan was displayed well but they are still immature trunk is just pushing up so will see how that goes. They did not make the usual mistakes of planting near a structure nor under wires like I did lol gary

It depends on where you live in the bay area and your exposure. Best scenerio is you live away from right on the bay,south of the Golden Gate by 10 miles to downtown San Jose,and you can then plant it as Bahia said,up against a hot wall or courtyard where heat builds up AND that bay breeze is blocked. Without a doubt you dont want it to be shaded by structures or trees. Would also help to have a stone mulch under it. Stones tends to be warmer and drier. T.P.,IMO,doesnt have to be as large as the tropics to be a showpiece.Just that unique fan shaped growth of leaves stands out. And if you get any trunk in a decent period,that's just more bonus! I dont care what others say. The difference in tropicalia growth here in the bay area can be SouCal like in the most favored areas. No frost and mid 70's to near 80 all summer is not what most people think we have.Most think of frigid San Francisco and that blustery wind and dense fog. I havent had a single plant that grows in SouCal easily,not also grow here in the eastbay.Not as large or as fast as in S.C., maybe-but growing. Mangos,Pachypodiums,Ficus like benjamina to petiolaris,even the Bo tree. When we get those once a decade freeze's,spend some time to cover and protect and your plants WILL survive.Not a bad trade off for such a northerly climate and a hour's time throwing blankets on plants once a decade!

Hi My guess would be #1 is a travelers palm that way outgrew its glasshouse lol #2 Wonderful specimen of lipstick palm already showing intense color note the one in the back is not. Underplanted with calathea 3 Wouldn't even venture a guess from that pic Way too many to choose from Would agree that others are Tree ferns but probably not Austalian due to the finer leaves ,my guess would be New Zealand ?? Note in the last a wonderful tropical "maidenhair " in the background in spite of all the competition.!! The tough part on TP white BOP is when they are immature once they develop their characteristics very easy There is also One member of the family from S. America but is extremely rare except in bo gardens . The flowers of this type are entirely different In a glasshouse they could be almost anything !!! gary