Viewing comments posted by longk

Not hardy where I live in the UK, but I've found the best way to propagate is from the root runners, which can be potted up with 100% success.
Late blooming.

I had several plants which I grew from seed but try as I might I could not get any of them through the winter outdoors eventually losing all of them over three winters. I'm annoyed with myself for planting the last one out now but I really thought that I had it worked out.

This Salvia is one of the hardiest I've owned. It has remained in leaf this winter despite lows of -7°c. It is also a truly phenomenal bloomer.
If it has a downside it is that it is a bit of a thug and will grow into other plants to the point that it can smother other strong growing S.microphylla cultivars.

This did not prove hardy enough to survive here in the UK unlike my D.bicolor despite being the larger and stronger looking plant.

Very hardy plant but it is very slow growing. The blooms are long lasting and once established they are produced in great numbers.

This is slightly unusual for an Echeveria in that it has a shrubby growth habit. It is also the only Echeveria that has self seeded for me filling a bowl of Pleione with seedlings one spring.

Mine was also very slow growing. I lifted it when I moved house but it didn't survive.

This is a spectacular Salvia for colder climates. Very hardy and also tolerant of wet winter conditions. The downside to this plant is that it does grow to be very large.
Easiest way to propogate is by layering stems and severing the following year for removal. It also produces seed freely.

One of my all time favourite hardy perennials. It must have free draining soil here in the UK and grows best if it is on the drier side whenever possible.

Tremendously versatile plant that is ideal for UK growers looking for something exotic looking for the garden. Simply grow a few of the many plantlets and plant out in late spring. It blooms reliably outdoors but sadly it isn't hardy.
Ideal houseplant too.

Not the easiest in zone 8a because of its winter blooming but well and truly worth giving it a go.

This is more of a plant for the collector than for garden designers being as it is small. Winter blooming in its natural habitat here in the UK it is summer growing and blooms later in the season.

Whilst it can take a frost and survive it will not handle a full zone 8 winter outdoors. It also needs better summers that we've had the last few years to thrive and as a result has been blooming later.

I have had this for many years and it is extremely hardy and perfect for pot culture.

Free flowering here in the UK and so far it has proven hardy down to -6°c. It needs a large container if being pot grown.

Mine took about three years from seed to bloom here in the UK.

Very easy from seed and hardy to about -10°c. The blooms appear at the ends of last years growth.

I've grown and bloomed this here in the UK and it is not as difficult as its reputation suggests if you follow the basics - keep it moist, give it plenty of humidity, shade and heat. One trick to encourage blooms is to dribble water daily into the leaf axils allowing it to collect in there during the summer.
One thing to bear in mind if you do grow it indoor or under glass - they do get very large! Mine was five feet across when I got rid of it.