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New Year New You New Me - The Plant Provocateur

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|Rhazes Little Gem Lettuce|

|Rhazes Little Gem Lettuce|

It's time for The Plant Provocateur to fess up.  So, I must admit, I strayed waaaaayyy off my usually healthy regimen this past holiday season and my body paid the price. How was I to know that the coconut cake, the key lime pies, the peppermint meringues, I made, would all taste so good?!  I also curse the Trader's Joe grocery chain for introducing me to their truly outrageous tin of treats known as Jingle Jangle.  So now, it's time for The Plant Provocateur to pay up and get in to a healthy frame of mind again.

|Little Gem Lettuce + Arugula|

|Little Gem Lettuce + Arugula|

So January 2nd, I pulled myself together and began a 14 day long dietary cleanse. It's day 7 and things are positively shaping up!  I didn't have to go far for the produce required for my cleanse.  Just out my backdoor, in fact, and into my garden.  Every year I plant for spring, summer, autumn, and winter.  Living and growing in California can be awesome.  For now, with the world's climate changing, I don't have to deal with any 'Polar Vortexes' or 'Arctic Expresses'.  As a result, this winter's harvest has been a bountiful one.  Oceans of arugula, lanes of luscious little gem lettuces, plumes of piquant parsley, all from organic seed, have created a tasty tapestry in my winter garden beds.

|Flat Leaf Parsley + Italiko Rosso Dandelion|

|Flat Leaf Parsley + Italiko Rosso Dandelion|

The Plant Provocateur has a serious hankerin' (get it?)  for dandelion greens.  The more the bitter the better.  Italiko Rosso is one of my favorites with its rich wine red ribs and pleated greens.  One cool benefit about all of this amazing food, grown from organic seed, in my organically prepared garden beds, is that as far as pests are concerned, they pretty much leave most of it alone and, as a result, it looks pristinely delicious as well as magazine spread ready.  The other benefit is that it fits the bill for my cleanse.  The bitter dandelion is great for cleaning up the liver.  The kale is nutrient rich.  The lettuces are sweet and the parsley is refreshingly aromatic.  Throw them all in a bowl (washed beforehand, of course), add a little lime scented flax dressing with garlic (lemme know if you want the recipe), and prepare for a delectable taste explosion.  So good!

|Outredgeous Romain Lettuce + Vates Kale|

|Outredgeous Romain Lettuce + Vates Kale|

Growing your own leafy greens is so easy and so satisfying.  There are a lot of great seed companies out there like High Mowing Organic Seeds in Vermont - www.highmowingseeds.com, Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Company in Missouri -  www.rareseeds.com, and Territorial Seed Company in Oregon - www.territorialseed.com.  The other cool thing about growing your own greens is that there are so many delicious, colorful varieties available out there.  Foliage color in reds, purples, golds, bronzes and greens will give your garden some serious stylin'-profilin' gourmet glam!  And right now, 'tis the season for ordering seeds. Many of the aforementioned seed companies have brilliant catalogs on-line and a treasure trove of offerings.  Oh, and if you talk to them, tell 'em The Plant Provocateur sent ya!

Everything Is Electric - The Plant Provocateur v.2014

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|theplantprovocateur|

|theplantprovocateur|

What on earth?!  Does that look like a plant to you?  Me neither, but The Plant Provocateur thought it might be time to change things up a bit.  Happy New Year to all of you out there in TPP land!  I'm quite happy to wave bye bye to the year past and am feeling electrified for today and the year future to follow.

To kick things off, I thought I might try revealing a bit more about my Plant Provocateur self to the world.  As a result of looking back at The Plant Provocateur blog of the past year, it's time to evolve.   I've received a lot of feedback about what I should do, where I should take things, how to approach you, and spread more of The Plant Provocateur magic.  Well, I've planted all of these seeds, so to speak, let them germinate, and voilà, things are sprouting in an electric way.

So first, let me say thank you for all of your ongoing support!  The snap above, I can't quite bring myself to say 'selfie', is of yours truly.  Hank.  The Plant Provocateur.  Now you can put a name with a face.  How do you do?

Moving forward, I have lots of cool things to show you and share.  This year is not only, of course, about featuring amazing plants, but also one of bringing even more of my world to you through cool provocateur product offerings through the new shop, resources, collaborations, events and other surprises.  Oh, and did I mention The Plant Provocateur blog is getting a serious upgrade?  So, stay tuned!

|2014 Flora Montage|

|2014 Flora Montage|

The Plant Provocateur KraftLab Holiday Pop Up Is On! Postponed until 12/8!

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|KraftLabHolidayFlyer|

|KraftLabHolidayFlyer|

Update: Alert!  Due to weather conditions KraftLab Holiday Pop Up has been postponed until tomorrow, Sunday, Dec. 8, same time, same place!  Pass it on!

The Plant Provocateur is super excited to say that Ilan Dei Venice has provided a venue for the hosting of KraftLab Holiday Pop Up!  A couple of vendors have been added to the roster and I'm excited to say that this is gonna be HUGE!  Come on down to Venice to check out the holiday offerings of The Plant Provocateur and friends.  It's gonna be a great time because not only is the Pop Up going on, but also The Abbot Kinney Annual Holiday Stroll will be happening.  So come on down and show your holiday love.

Lots of handmade magic to see and buy!  The Plant Provocateur will be selling super chic holiday wreaths, cool designer plants, and featuring the amazing holiday cookies of L.A.'s caterer to the stars Darren The Chef.  Also, on hand will be the beyond delicious confections of Confectionally Yours, the chic and unique holiday decor of CushStudio, the visually fresh artistic awesomeness of JoryLab, the purifying perfection of The Potion Shoppe organic apothecary products for men and women, and the design deliciousness of Ilan Dei Venice featuring the california cool fashion of Sundry.  If you're in the L.A. area on Saturday come on over to Venice and experience KraftLab.  Hope to see you there!

The Plant Provocateur Wreaths Project

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|Wreath Set 1|

|Wreath Set 1|

Some of you have been asking about The Plant Provocateur Wreaths Project.  Here are the results.  I've worked to find unique or 'different' plant material to create mod updated versions of the holiday wreath.  I like the idea of both living, transitioning, and dried results.  Some are for hanging and others are for tabletop decor.  The Plant Provocateur is all about aspiring creativity and inspiring natural luxury through the rich world of plants. So many colors and shapes are out there…you just have to find them and craft.  Here is what The Plant Provocateur has to offer.  What do you think?

|Wreath Set 2|

|Wreath Set 2|

As I mentioned in a previous post, The Plant Provocateur wreaths are all handmade and one of kind due to the differences in the detailing.  Wreaths are priced between $65 and $140 usd not including shipping and supplies are limited due to the seasonal availability of some plant materials.  Wreaths are available through the blog at the moment.  If you have any interest please send any inquiries to [email protected].

Event Postponed...The Plant Provocateur Postpones KraftLab Holiday Pop Up

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|KraftLabHolidayFlyer|

|KraftLabHolidayFlyer|

EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED...

Check out The Plant Provocateur!  The weekend after Thanksgiving I'm putting on a holiday pop up event as part of my new entrepreneurial endeavor.Event Postponed.Pop Ups seem to be a hot thing in Los Angeles, so I figure why not give it a shot.  As a result, I've created a new project called KraftLab.  KraftLab is a marketplace event where budding (pun intended) entrepreneurs, like myself, can experiment with their craft, products, and ideas in a marketplace setting bringing what they do to the public.  The goal of KraftLab is to become a biannual event taking place in the spring and autumn in Los Angeles, as well as having a continual presence as an online store featuring products of KraftLab participants.  So stay tuned as The Plant Provocateur blog evolves and introduces the world to the KraftLab store.

This year The Plant Provocateur is featuring holiday wreaths like no other.  Wreaths can truly be works of art as well as beauty.  The Plant Provocateur wreaths are all handmade and are truly one of a kind in that each one always has one detail different than the other.  Wreaths run anywhere between $65 - $140 usd not including shipping. Wreaths will be available for order on Etsy and Kraftlab 11/29/13 - 12/15/13 or if you are in the Los Angeles area check them out at next weekend's KraftLab Holiday Pop Up in Silver Lake.

Also joining KraftLab holiday are Confectionally Yours.  I'm a chocolate connoisseur and if you want to taste supremely awesome confection, run….don't walk to KraftLab next weekend or check out confectionallyyours.com and get yourself some now…seriously….now!  Then, if you're into chic + unique holiday decor like cool, hip, glam christmas stockings (no, we're not talking with mustaches on them…we're talking truly cool and clever motifs), check out CushStudio.  This is a flagship launch for CushStudio who will debuting their super groovy handmade pet beds in spring.  Last but not least, there is the amazing Spice Station Silver Lake.  The most amazing gourmet spices you will find in the culinary world and beyond.  Check them out at spicestationsilverlake.com.

Stay tuned for updates.

Kickin' it for you and yours,

The Plant Provocateur

Close Encounters Of The Chef's Cap Kind - Correa baeuerlenii

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|Correa baeuerlenii bud detail|

|Correa baeuerlenii bud detail|

What in the world?!  As if from the future, comes this fascinating flower formation that's sure to get your mind reeling.  What look like spotted upside-down hats were once flat flying-saucer like flower buds.  The Plant Provocateur is a sucker for the freaky flora and this super cool evergreen Australian shrub delivers the goods.  Don't know if you've met before but let me introduce you to the suavely supercool Correa baeuerlenii commonly referred to as the Chef's Cap Correa.  Correas are commonly referred to as Australian Fuchsia.  Correa baeuerlenii grabs The Plant Provocateur's attention a bit more than most correas because its flowers are so surreally sumptuous. Check it out.

|Correa baeuerlenii bud + flower formation|

|Correa baeuerlenii bud + flower formation|

One minute Correa baeuerlenii's flower buds look like a u.f.o. and the next they resemble a chef's cap or stovepipe hat!  So cool.  So unexpected.  Flowers are full of nectar and can bring the hummingbirds to the yard.  As an added bonus, Correas generally flower from late autumn to early spring, so when things are pretty dull and drab outside, they kick out a 'florific' fashion show of the latest in floral couture. Reminds me of the amazing hats my friend and milliner at House of Nines Design creates by hand.

|Correa baeuerlenii form + stem + flower detail|

|Correa baeuerlenii form + stem + flower detail|

And if the flowers of Correa baeuerlenii weren't fashionable enough, this handsome shrub structures itself with rich red stems and glossy green, tidy foliage giving it additional sophisticated style and verdant versatility in both, are you ready for it…. sun and shade situations.  Yeah, I said it.  Correas can grow well in both sun and shade situations, which can be a hard quality to find in most garden plants.  Now I must admit, I've seen this plant looking its most stellar in part-shade to shade situations.

Correa baeuerlenii tends to grow as a rounded shrub up to 4 feet tall and wide.  It can look smashing with an occasional prune for shape and encouragement of bushier growth.  It likes part shade situations, well-draining, composted soil, regular water, and is hardy down to around 15 degrees fahrenheit/-9 degrees celsius.  When temps get cold Cb's foliage tends to blush and turn red.  Giving us some festive realness.

Suave, debonair, fascinating.  Words to definitely describe one of the many awesome plants out there waiting to be discovered.  Why not invite Correa baeuerlenii into your plant lovin' world and watch it capture your curiosity.  From flying saucer to chef's cap…who would have thought?!

The Unique Mystique And Dandy Physique Of Rooistompie - Mimetes cucullatus

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|Mimetes cucullatus floral detail|

|Mimetes cucullatus floral detail|

What in the world?!  Is it some sort of Tarantula?  No.  It's a new form of beauty.  Old world avant-garde for those seeking something a little different in their floral flair. Welcome to the world of Mimetes cucullatus also commonly known as the Common Pagoda or Rooistompie (meaning 'Red Stump').  This south african term is derived from the stump or stumps of this plant left after a fire and the new red growth that sprouts from it.  Mimetes cucullatus comes to us from the southwestern climes of South Africa's Cape Province.  It's in the Protea family and has not spent much time in the floral limelight.  Well, now is its time to shine.

|Mimetes cucullatus flower + form|

|Mimetes cucullatus flower + form|

Mimetes cucullatus, the name Mimetes is derived from the greek term for 'mimic',  is an upright, evergreen shrub that can grow up to 5 feet tall and wide.  It produces multiple stems of bushy growth.  New growth is blushed in tones that range from bright red to rich rosé.  Now, for those that are familiar with other protea this characteristic may seem familiar.  This shrub's characteristics are quite similar to those of some Leucadendrons and Leucospermums, however, there is one strikingly unique difference.  The distinctive flower heads of this shrub are more like a hybrid version of the previous genera.  Like Leucadendrons, they produce vividly colored bracts.  Like Leucospermums, they produce pin-like styles.  The difference is that the flowers of Mimetes cucullatus are produces directly below a leaf and emerge from a cylindrical hood.  Singly, the flowers are not much to write home about but, clustered in a colorful comb, terminally at the tops of stems, they resemble the fiery fantastical flames of a torch.  The look is seductively sophisticated and up until now been rarely seen by most plant lovers.

|Mimetes cucullatus details|

|Mimetes cucullatus details|

Mimetes cucullatus likes full sun locations, light, free-draining but moisture-rentative soil, regular water, and is hardy down to around 25 degrees fahrenheit/-3 degrees celsius.  It loves coastal conditions and benefits from pruning, which will keep you in red new growth year-round as well as give you some pretty cool floral cuttings.  Also, as it is in the Protea family, it does not like to be fertilized with phosphorus.  Results can be deadly.  It is indeed a plant with a unique mystique and a dandy physique. For those of you wanting your own try Annies Annuals or Australian Native Plants Nursery.  Tell 'em The Plant Provocateur sent you!

Is It Time To Slip Into Something...More Comfortable? - Phragmipedium schlimii

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|Phragmipedium schlimii floral detail|

|Phragmipedium schlimii floral detail|

That's right.  Let yourself go.  Fall into a kaleidoscope of color.  But where are you headed?  Where will you end up?  You are going to a place of chic grandeur, far far away from the ordinary.  A place that soothes the soul and opens the mind with its stylish beauty.  Welcome to the fashionable fantasia of Phragmipedium schlimii. Phragma-what you say?  Phragmipedium schlimii is part of a group of elegant plants commonly referred to as South American Slipper Orchids.  This orchid comes from a history of obsession and greed.  One such species of it was discovered in Peru in 1981.  Once word got out, orchid hunters and paparazzi went wild, pillaging and destroying the site where it was found.  These orchids have the power to move or destroy mountains, so-to-speak.  Their beauty is that special!  Luckily, they are still with us by the power of  loving cultivation.  Why not grow some?!

|Phragmipedium schlimii floral profile|

|Phragmipedium schlimii floral profile|

Phragmipedium schlimii is yet another reason why the world should fall in love with flowers.  Something about the slipper shape is enchanting...like a fairy tale.  This particular slipper orchid comes to us from the Andes mountains running through Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.  It grows as a terrestrial orchid on narrow hillsides in lower elevation tropical forests that receive bright light and ample soil moisture. Phragmipedium schlimii produce fan-shaped, strap-like foot long foliage.  Its pleated leaf radiates a fresh, grass-green finish.  It produces tall flower stems that can hold anywhere from 5 to 8 buds.  Velvety flowers open up 2 inches across with a white base color stained and freckled in arousing rose hues blazoned with a lemon colored keel.  Again, mother nature gives us another chic example of exotic elegance.

|Phragmipedium schlimii bud + flower + foliage|

|Phragmipedium schlimii bud + flower + foliage|

Phragmipedium schlimii likes bright light conditions and to be planted in either pure sphagnum moss, orchid bark mixed with pea-sized aggregate, or hydroponic expanded clay pellets.  Preferring bog-like conditions, it likes constant moisture, humidity, and warm temps (upper 50's fahrenheit/14 degrees celsius to upper 70's fahrenheit/25 degrees celsius).  Phragmipedium, in general, are sensitive to water. Distilled water works well.  It definitely is a greenhouse candidate.  But not all of us have a greenhouse handy.  So for those seeking the glory and grandeur of horticultural adventure, try growing it indoors in a deep plastic container and place that container in a shallow saucer with 2 inches of water.  Keep that water level as constant as you can but be sure to flush old standing water.  I hear that it can thrive in this scenario.  So I'm going to give it a go (going to an orchid sale tomorrow).  I'll let you know how it goes.  Stay tuned...

Goldfinger...The Plant With The Midas Touch - Juanulloa mexicana

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|Juanulloa mexicana floral detail|

|Juanulloa mexicana floral detail|

Here's one for the fashionable floranista lovers out there.  Nothing says power-color like orange.  Orange stimulates our feelings for adventure, exoticism, and pleasure. It induces a passion for excitement.  Such is the case of Juanulloa mexicana commonly referred to as simply... The Goldfinger Plant.  Very James Bond wouldn't you say?  Well, here we have a tropical 'twiner' that definitely has the midas touch. Check out that flower!  So provocative.  So mysterious.  The bud, a brilliant 1 1/2 - 2 inch bell-shaped calyx, inflates to a point and bursts at its seams to reveal an emphatically exciting tubular flower.  Together, calyx and tube create a vibrant vision of electrical voluptuousness that both hypnotizes and arouses the senses.

|Juanulloa mexicana bud + foliage + flower|

|Juanulloa mexicana bud + foliage + flower|

Juanulloa mexicana is an evergreen/deciduous, vining, epiphytic shrub that comes to us from Central and South America.  Its primary point of origin is Peru.  It's not the kind of plant you see everyday.  It is mostly cultivated at Botanical Gardens and in private conservatories.  However, if you, dear reader are up for it...you could grow one too.  Think of this plant as summer wardrobe for the garden.  The kind you could grow in a container, have outside during the warm seasons, and bring indoors in the winter.  If you live in a warmer climate, you could have it outside year-round as long as you are vigilant and give it what it needs to thrive.

Juanulloa mexicana can grow up to 6 feet tall and wide.  It likes full sun with midday shade or part sun conditions, well-draining, fertile soil, regular water, medium to low humidity, and is hardy down to 35 degrees fahrenheit/2 degrees celsius.  It ideally thrives and remains evergreen in temperatures above 50 degrees fahrenheit/10 degrees celsius.  In cooler temperatures, it tends to go deciduous until warm weather returns.

Juanulloa mexicana outfits itself in leathery luxurious leaves that shimmer with a sleek sheen.  This tropical wonder is in the nightshade family and all parts are toxic if ingested so plant it responsibly.  If you have a sense for adventure and dare to venture botanically into an exhilarating world of exciting exotica, find yourself some Juanulloa mexicana a.k.a. Goldfinger.  Your rewards will be luxurious!

Kiss That Frog - Tricyrtis a.k.a. The Toad Lily

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|Tricyrtis formosana var. stolonifera floral detail|

|Tricyrtis formosana var. stolonifera floral detail|

Can you handle the amazingness of such a vision?!  The architecture, the color, the opulence...it's out of hand and The Plant Provocateur loves it!  Mother nature has outdone herself again.  Welcome to the world of the plant genus Tricyrtis commonly known as the Toad Lily.  Tricyrtis come from places such as the Himalayas, the Philippines, Japan, and Taiwan.  So, what's with the common name Toad Lily?  How on earth could something so spectacular be considered 'toad-like'?  Well, there's this crazy story.  Let me set the scene.  It's the early 1970's.  The place is the Philippines.  It is alleged by some that an eccentric millionaire politician came up with a hoax to increase tourism.  This hoax involved the discovery of a Stone Age Tribe, known as the Tasaday, living in what was described as a 'Primeval Eden' somewhere in the Philippines.  The world and other enquiring minds wanted to know more!  Their tribal skills included catching frogs for food.  The method in which they demonstrated this was to crush Tricyrtis and rub the plant's juices all over their arms and hands.  The odor supposedly was a 'frog attractant' that caused wayward amphibians to jump into their hands making hunting for them a snap.  No more digging around in the muck.  It was, allegedly, that easy.  After much speculation about the authenticity of the tribe itself, many considered it all to be an act. Regardless, the common name Toad Lily remains.

|Tricyrtis formasana var. stolonifera bud + bloom|

|Tricyrtis formasana var. stolonifera bud + bloom|

I fell in love with Tricyrtis many years ago when a friend gave me a rather distressed looking clump in an old terra cotta pot.  He told me to be patient.  I was well rewarded!  Tricyrtis are perennial and resemble the woodland plant Maianthemum racemosum commonly referred to as False Solomon's Seal.  They grow as arching stems that get about 2 to 3 feet tall.  The species Tricyrtis formasana var. stolonifera spreads with runners to create clumps of plants up to 2 feet wide.

|Tricyrtis hirta 'Tojen' floral detail|

|Tricyrtis hirta 'Tojen' floral detail|

The species Tricyrtis hirta does not run, but does form clumps up to 2 feet wide.  In spring, Tricyrtis sprout and send up arching stems flanked with foliage.  Depending on the species the foliage can be spotted, fuzzy, outlined with colorful margins, matte, or glossy.  In late summer/early fall, inch long flowers of the most elaborate configuration, color, and pattern are produced.  They resemble jewel-encrusted orchids.  Seriously stunning!

|Tricyrtis hirta 'Tojen' flower + foliage + form|

|Tricyrtis hirta 'Tojen' flower + foliage + form|

In general, Tricyrtis like partial shade to bright shade conditions, rich, organic, well-draining soil, regular water, and are hardy down to -25 degrees fahrenheit/-31 degrees celsius.  Also, as Tricyrtis grow they tend to sprawl.  If control is your thing, stake and secure stems according to your aesthetic taste.  In fall, plants die back and wither.  Cut back in late winter/early spring in time for emergent new growth. They do well in containers and are best observed if you plant them close to pathways or place them somewhere where their amazing flowers can be seen, up close and personal, when they bloom. They are indeed a guilty garden pleasure; an opulent overload of horticultural hotness!

The Voluptuous Verve Of A Summer Sun - Cosmos sulphureus

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|Cosmos sulphureus floral petal detail|

|Cosmos sulphureus floral petal detail|

You know that time of year when the daylight gets shorter and summer starts to become a memory?  You long for those beautiful summery sunshiny days.  When the temperature is warm, the sky is the purest blue, and the breeze is just right.  It is a time of year when everything feels so alive.  Nature has a way of painting our world with colors that conjure up those sunshiny days.  Colors such as yellows, oranges, and reds ignite our soul with their vivid warmth.  This warmth is harnessed by our eyes and the experience it provides wraps us up in that dreamy, velvety, comforting feeling of summer.  On a recent walk, I came across a vision like this.  Its intensity was such a welcome surprise.  Radiating like a sunset off the southern California coast, let yourself bask in the voluptuous vision of Cosmos sulphureus.  The ray-like petals of its flowers radiate an electrifying energy that sends me into a state of euphoria!

|Cosmos sulphureus seed + flower + foliage|

|Cosmos sulphureus seed + flower + foliage|

Cosmos sulphureus comes to us from Mexico.  It is an outstanding annual plant that produces fashionable fern-like foliage and an explosion of dynamic daisy-like flowers from summer through autumn.  Cosmos sulphureus can grow up to 6 feet tall and spread 2 to 3 feet wide.  Its form is somewhat upright, wild, and bushy.  When it finishes flowering it produces nifty starburst-like clusters of slender seeds.  Both flowers and seeds make strikingly sublime elements as cut flowers.

Cosmos sulphureus likes full sun, well-draining, average soil, and regular to low water. In the right conditions, it can self seed.  Otherwise, seed collected from spent flower heads can be started indoors in spring or planted loosely in soil a few weeks before the last frost. Flower color can range from vibrant yellow, intense orange, rich red, or a combination of the three.  No matter the color, to see this plant full of its effervescently engaging flowers is simply beautiful.  It will remind you of all the warmth and comfort of a summer sun.

It's About Altitude Not Attitude - Fuchsia boliviana 'Alba'

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|Fuchsia boliviana 'Alba' floral detail|

|Fuchsia boliviana 'Alba' floral detail|

Sometimes in life beauty comes from above.  It rains down on you like snow.  So delicate yet so powerful; so beautiful, it causes you to stand still and bask in its spectacle.  Such is the case of Fuchsia boliviana 'Alba'.  It's a semi-evergreen, erect shrub that produces graceful clusters of slender trumpet-like flowers that open and flare their downward tips in opulent color.  It looks like the type of plant Bacchus would have had present at one of his rituals of ecstasy and madness.  Fuchsia boliviana 'Alba' comes to us from the high altitude cloud forests of Bolivia, Peru, and Argentina.  When blooming is in full swing, something about the multiple bunches of buds and bloom displayed is somewhat reminiscent of the visually delicious clustering of lusciously promising grapes.

|Fuchsia boliviana foliage + flower + form|

|Fuchsia boliviana foliage + flower + form|

Fuchsia boliviana 'Alba' can grow to be 12 feet tall and 4 to 8 feet wide.  Slightly arching branches outfit themselves in plushly textured deep green leaves and throughout the year produce dangling clusters of two-tone narrow white trumpet-like buds that open to reveal engaging, tropically pinkish red flowers.  When flowers finish their display, they leave behind edible, subtly flavored, capsule-like black fruits. Fuchsia boliviana 'Alba' looks amazing grown among other structured plants, where it can subtly weave its branches here and there, later producing clustering ornaments of color in surprising places throughout its supporting plant.

Fuchsia boliviana 'Alba' likes part sun to shady situations, fertile, well-draining soil, and regular water.  It doesn't like extreme temperatures and needs protection from frost.  It's hardy down to around 30 degrees fahrenheit/-1 degrees celsius.  It makes a tropically elegant feature plant in a garden or container where in bloom its tropical tassels of color create an alluring air.  For a sophisticated display of tropical temptation try using branches with blooms as cut flowers in supportive vessels indoors or out.

Are U Experienced? - Nelumbo nucifera

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|Nelumbo nucifera floral detail|

|Nelumbo nucifera floral detail|

Imagine, if you will, a picture...you're sitting comfortably on a jet, traveling first class, gliding smoothly over distant lands as your airship rides tropical trade winds.  Out the window, down below, you see a mystical green sea dotted with tiny green tropical islands tasseled with golden clouds.  In reality, what you are witnessing is heaven on earth, if you entertain such things.

|Nelumbo nucifera floral profile|

|Nelumbo nucifera floral profile|

This mystical moment is brought to you by Nelumbo nucifera also commonly known as Sacred Lotus. Indian Lotus, or Chinese Lotus.  This spellbinding bloom is considered to be the Buddhist symbol of purity, enlightenment, and self-awareness. In bloom, flowers are so mysteriously elegant, so divinely fragrant; floating above luxurious foliage like a floral cloudburst of beauty, they elicit a state of calm in those that witness their powerful purity first-hand.  Nelumbo nucifera comes to us from Asia, India, and Australia.  It is an aquatic perennial plant that grows from tuberous roots anywhere from 6 inches to several feet below water.  Its flower is one of the most coveted in the world.  Not only that...one of these plants can live for up to 1000 years!

|Nelumbo nucifera foliage + flower|

|Nelumbo nucifera foliage + flower|

Nelumbo nucifera like to grow in still water and sprout only when water temperature warms.  This usually happens late spring/early summer.  They send up big, bold, super-cool, tropical umbrella-like foliage that can measure up to 2 feet across and stand 2 to 6 feet above the water's surface.  Once summer kicks in, plump flower buds rise up to unfurl delicate petals surrounding an otherworldly seed pod that eventually dries into an intriguingly striking structure.  Flowers can open up to an impressive 12 inches wide.  Their fragrance is unlike any other floral scent.  The essence is pleasurably sweet and fruity; lusciously intoxicating.

Nelumbo nucifera like full sun to part sun situations, grow best in planting baskets submerged in water, and should be protected from waters that freeze in winter.  In areas that freeze, when the weather gets colder, the foliage has dried, stop growing, and been cut back, pull baskets from water gardens and store in a cool dry place until spring.  Also, to grow new tubers in baskets, first allow tubers to root in water in late spring, then plant in baskets with water garden medium before placing them underwater for summer growth.  Provide plants with an aquatic plant fertilizer during growth for maximum magnificence.

Whether grown in a water garden, container water garden, or suspended in a vase, Nelumbo nucifera is truly a floral luxury.  Its presence is truly a gift from nature that must be experienced in a lifetime.  Once experienced you will know the meaning of heaven on earth!

Pelica Psychedelica - Aristolochia gigantea

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|Aristolochia gigantea floral detail|

|Aristolochia gigantea floral detail|

Looking like some sort of black light painting of floral fractal design comes something so awesome, so psychedelically stunning, so surreally stylish that you can't take your eyes off of it!  A visual vortex so mind bending you might think that there are clouds in your coffee while Led Zeppelin's Mothership plays on in the background.

|Aristolochia gigantea floral profile|

|Aristolochia gigantea floral profile|

Feast your eyes on the future forward fashion of Aristolochia gigantea commonly known as Giant Dutchman's Pipe, Duck Flower, or Pelican Flower.  I gotta give props to my friend Sharon Lowe, one of the floral superstars at Clementine Floral Works/Silver Lake, for kidnapping yours truly and taking me to a secret location in Atwater Village, nearby, to see the spectacle that is presented before you.  I have never seen such a glorious display of Aristolochia awesomeness before.  So psychedelically delicious...it's ridiculous!

Aritsolochia gigantea comes to us from Brazil and parts of Central America.  It's an evergreen, fast-growing vine that twines and twirls with a luxuriously exotic energy. Vines can grow 15 to 20 feet long.  From summer to early winter they produce strikingly spectacular flowers with billowy, flaring calyces festooned with fractal patterns in a combination of deep wine and cream color.  At the center of it all is a mysterious looking vortex the color of a distant sun.  Flowers are usually 6 inches wide and up to 1 foot long!

|Aristolochia gigantea details|

|Aristolochia gigantea details|

Aristolochia gigantea outfits itself in beautifully lush, heart-shaped foliage that is around 4 to 6 inches wide.  Flower buds form resembling a cross between an old time pipe and an upturned duck's head.  As the buds mature they begin to take on a form similar to a pelican's mouth.  Now, I know it all sounds so strange but, live and in concert the look is so ultra-vivid-cool it will hypnotize you into a state of joyful, beautiful bliss.

Aritolochia gigantea likes sun or partial shade, regular water, well-draining, fertile soil, and is hardy down to around 32 degrees fahrenheit/0 degrees celsius.  Planted with some support on a fence or trellis it can put on quite a show.  So if you're in the mood for something that's got some funky-fresh-super-psychedelic style try growing this florally fractal fashionista.  Oh, and for something totally different try using some as cut flowers.  They'll make your ordinary...extraordinary!

Love Mysterious - Epidendrum parkinsonianum

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|Epidendrum parkinsonianum floral profile|

|Epidendrum parkinsonianum floral profile|

How many times a day do you fall in love?  The Plant Provocateur falls an awful lot. It's usually the most unusual things that do it.  A quick glance and boom.  Direct hit. In this particular case, it's the architecture and the detail.  Combine that with the simplicity of color and you have something intoxicating.  Filigree, curls, long lashes of form.  Such is the case of Epidendrum parkinsonianum, a pendulous provocateur of orchid perfection.  Seeing this orchid live and in concert is like seeing an exquisitely handcrafted pair of shoes or a drop dead gorgeous luxury car for the first time.  It's got what it takes to make you fall in love.  A love that is mysterious.  When it's in bloom, it lures you in with its perplexing tassel-like flowers.  So simple.  So elegant.  Yet they make you wonder how beauty can constantly transform itself into something so awe inspiring.

|Epidendrum parkinsonianum details|

|Epidendrum parkinsonianum details|

Epidendrum parkinsonianum further captures a mysterious essence with its interestingly pendulous succulent foliage.  It hangs down in lucsciously long lithe rivulets of green.  As plants add more foliage the look becomes that of a fountain-like cascade of tantalizingly rich green texture.  On closer inspection, the flowers take on a slightly wicked silhouette.  Its column with frayed anther cap resembles the teeth of something wild.  Delicate danger that exhilarates and  brings further excitement to the experience.

Epidendrum parkinsonianum comes to us from the forests of Central America. Plants can grow into 6 foot long cascades of green showering foliage.  In spring and summer, it produces falling star bursts of greenish white flowers with yellow detail. Flowers dangle out from the foliage and when the sun goes down they emit a delicate, yet subtle perfume.  When plants get large and produce many flowers it is such an arrestingly beautiful sight to see.  Epidendrum parkinsonianum like shaded conditions with bright ample light.  When they receive lots of light foliage tends to take on rich purple tones.  During the warmer months, water this orchid daily either by dunking it or dousing it.  In cooler months cut back to 3 to 4 times a week.  Use distilled water.  Tap water contains minerals that can burn roots.  As for temperature, this orchid thrives in temps between 50 and 95 degrees fahrenheit/10 and 35 degrees celsius.  If you live where temperatures get cooler consider bringing this orchid inside to enjoy its unstoppable exotica.  So, what's not to love?   Unique orchid loveliness. Check. Exotica overload.  Check.  Love mysterious.  Check!

The Exhilarating Ecstasy Of Exotic Love - Mina Lobata

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|Mina lobata floral profile|

|Mina lobata floral profile|

So vibrant.  So rich with color like you've never seen.  Reaching for the sky and setting it on fire with a seductive overload of provocative power.  It's like a technicolor dream.  A vision so alive you can't ignore it.  May I introduce Mina lobata also commonly known as Exotic Love Vine, Firecracker Vine, or Spanish Flag. This electric annual vine comes to us from Brazil.  The flowers of it start off as rich scarlet buds slowly fading to an opulent orange, beauteous blonde, and then a charismatic cream.  It's as if nature's drag racing lights are signaling the exotic beauty of this vine to get ready, set, and go!

|Mina lobata flower + form + foliage|

|Mina lobata flower + form + foliage|

Mina lobata is one chic and unique vine to grow.  It's fast and easy.  Grows covering vines up to 10 feet in one season!  From seed, vines spiral and twine out of the soil producing luxurious bronze-purple fleur-de-lis foliage that brightens to a fresh verdant green as it expands to maturity.  Come mid-summer, 5 to 6 inch sprays of flower buds rocket outward from foliage and begin to bloom with a blindingly bodacious beauty through autumn.

Mina lobata likes full sun, well-draining soil, and regular water.  If planting from seed, nick seeds with a nail file or score with sand paper until outer coating thins then soak in room temperature water overnight.  This will speed germination. Otherwise, look for live plants online or at nurseries. (Oh, and tell 'em The Plant Provocateur sent you.) Plant seeds in spring when the temperatures begin to warm.  As plants emerge, provide them with a trellis or some other support to climb on and cover.  Sit back and watch the vines fill with lush foliage and explode with ultra vivid color.  Oh, and you'll have company too.  The hummingbirds will be stopping by.  With so many of the same old vines out there why not grow something 'outside-the-box' and experience the firecracker firepower and exhilarating ecstasy of a vine that's gonna give you some exotic love.

Vivacious Violet Beauregarde Beauticiousness - Tomato 'Bosque Blue'

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|Tomato 'Bosque Blue' fruit profile|

|Tomato 'Bosque Blue' fruit profile|

I don't think you're even ready.... Have you ever seen such mysterious skin before? Well, something deliciously wicked this way comes.  Let me introduce you to the beguilingly beautiful and tasty new variety of tomato known as the Tomato 'Bosque Blue'.  This tomato is a combination of heirloom-tomato-flavor-awesomeness with a color as rich in antioxidants as blueberries!  Never in my life have I seen such a purplish-black tomato.  So cool!

|Tomato 'Bosque Blue' fruit detail|

|Tomato 'Bosque Blue' fruit detail|

The color of Tomato 'Bosque Blue' is extraordinary and alluring.  It tends to darken in cooler weather or in full sun situations.  This is what the Plant Provocateur would call an ADULT tomato.  Not super sugary but not super tart.  The flavor is lusciously savory and screams "Tomato!"  I haven't seen it yet, but I expect to see these fruits de fantasie showing up in salads and on other plates at super hip foodie 'restos' in 5, 4, 3, 2...

|Tomato 'Bosque Blue' foliage + fruit|

|Tomato 'Bosque Blue' foliage + fruit|

Why not avoid the frustration of not getting in at your local 'resto' and grow some for yourself?  That's what the Plant Provocateur did.  Tomato 'Bosque Blue' plants grow up to 6-7 feet tall and require some staking or trellising.  Plants kick out green, almost velvety foliage that is sometimes tinged with purple tones and when brushed, emits an intoxicating tomato plant perfume.  The scent conjures up that fresh growing garden vibe.  It's one of those strange garden smells I can't get enough of. Grow plants in a sunny location. Water regularly in growth.  When fruit begins to form cut back on watering to prevent fruit from splitting and further enhance flavor. When fruit begins to ripen, prune away unnecessary foliage to expose clusters to sunlight. This will deepen their mind-blowing blueberry-black coloring and give you an alluring addition to your palette.  Who knew that a tomato could be so beguilingly beauticious?!  Gotta get you some.

The Water Walking Wonderment Of Wow - Hymenocallis caribaea 'Variegata'

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|Hymenocallis caribaea 'Variegata' floral profile|

|Hymenocallis caribaea 'Variegata' floral profile|

The Plant Provocateur is back from a sultry sojourn in NYC and ready to serve up some 'plusciously' provocative plantasy.  It's ground-control-to-major-tom time with this stunning satellite of pristine petal perfection!  So delicate yet so strongly striking. Again, nature has crafted and displayed a beauty that looks so spectacular and pure. Let me introduce you to Hymenocallis caribaea 'Variegata' also commonly known as the Variegated Spider-Lily.  Hymenocallis caribaea 'Variegata' comes to us from the West Indies.

|Hymenocallis caribaea 'Variegata' bud + bloom|

|Hymenocallis caribaea 'Variegata' bud + bloom|

Hymenocallis caribaea 'Variegata' is a semiaquatic, evergreen to seasonally dormant bulb, that produces sophisticated and stylish clumps of thick variegated strap-leaf foliage.  Its form is very similar to that of the genus Clivia.  Foliage grows 1 foot to 1 1/2 feet high and about 1 foot wide.  Out of flower it looks trés chic.  In flower, it looks dynamique!  In midsummer, long, lithe flower buds rise on stalks among the foliage. When the buds are ready, they erupt into spectacular starbursts of white trumpet-like bloom.  The flower corollas are like delicate parachutes tipped with 5 whiskery white petals and their fragrance is like the sweet perfume of lily-of-the-valley with a hint of soft magnolia blossom.  Seriously sumptuous!

Hymenocallis caribaea 'Variegata' likes its bulbs to be planted in moist soil or just underwater.  If growing this plant in a water garden place bulbs in a mesh planting basket  just below the water's surface.  These plants like full sun to shade conditions. They tend to bloom more in sun/part sun conditions.  Hymenocallis caribaea 'Variegata' is hardy down to 0 degrees fahrenheit/-18 degrees celsius.  In areas where water can freeze, as long as bulbs are below the freeze line of the surface, they have a good chance of coming back when temperatures warm.

Such a cool plant.  Beautiful in and out of bloom.  Fragrance that will leave you spellbound.  Imagine this as a cut flower looking like a stylish sputnik launching out of a water holding vessel.  Wow!

Everything You Do Is A Balloon - Platycodon grandiflorus

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|Platycodon grandiflorus floral detail|

|Platycodon grandiflorus floral detail|

There is something so calming about the purity of blue.  Blue reminds me of floating in the warm caribbean sea while golden rays of sunlight shower down and bathe the scenery with light.  It reminds me of flying above the azure waters of the hawaiian islands where the only thing obscuring the view below are teeny tiny puffs of clouds drifting like fluffy islets over a backdrop of the purest blue.  Blue is a color of paradise.  A color of pleasurable escape.  Coming across it in nature leaves you feeling relaxed yet exhilarated.  That's what I felt the other day when I was traipsing around the Brooklyn Botanical Garden in some of the fiercest heat and humidity I've experienced in a long time.  Luckily for me the trees in the garden are well established and provided some respite from the heat.  While checking out their rock garden I came across a quiet little area that was punctuated by brilliant bursts of blue.  That blue was coming from tall stems of Platycodon grandiflorus commonly known as Balloon Flower, Chinese Bellflower, or Japanese Bellflower.

|Platycodon grandiflorus floral profile|

|Platycodon grandiflorus floral profile|

The big bloom of bountiful blue that these flowers were giving turned my mood from hot and bothered to relaxed and restful.  Then the details that nature designed on the petals and within caught my eye.  Platycodon grandiflorus takes it beauty to a whole other level with rich blue striations on its petals as well as the ethereally elegant structure of its vividly stunning style and anthers.  When you get up close it almost takes your breath away.

|Platycodon grandiflorus petal detail|

|Platycodon grandiflorus petal detail|

Platycodon grandiflorus comes to us from the hillside meadows of China, Japan, Korea, and Siberia.  They are a clumping, deciduous perennial that grow up to 3 feet tall and 2 feet wide. In late spring, new stems emerge and outfit themselves with rich green foliage.  From mid-summer through autumn, puffy pillowy buds form to burst open into flaring five star petaled 2 to 3 inch flowers of the most beautiful blue. Platycodon grandiflorus also come in other bloom color such as rose and ivory.

|Platycodon grandiflorus balloon bud + form + foliage|

|Platycodon grandiflorus balloon bud + form + foliage|

Platycodon grandiflorus like full sun to part shade conditions, rich, well-draining soil, regular water, and is hardy down to temps well below 0 degrees fahrenheit (-40 degrees fahrenheit and celsius).  Also, from first hand experience, it looks perfectly happy in heat up to 99 degrees fahrenheit/37 degrees celsius.

These flowers are really beautiful not only in the garden but also as a vivid cut flower. Just cauterize cut ends to prevent any milky sap from leaking out of stems.  When planted in the garden, just cut back stems in winter, leaving some to indicate where it's planted, and come late spring new growth will emerge.  Super easy to care for.  Super cool to grow and know.

Succumb To The Scarlet Sumptuosity - Hakea archaeoides

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|Hakea archaeoides floral profile|

|Hakea archaeoides floral profile|

Color me curious.  Look at this sculpturally sumptuous ornament of scarlet surrealness!  It almost reminds me of some sort of crazy curling brush or an eccentrically colored cuddly echidna.  Check out all those curvaceous curlycues...what in the world?!  Let me introduce you to the evergreen shrub/tree known as Hakea archaeoides.  It comes to us from Australia, is a cousin of the Grevillea genus, and is a member of the Protea family.  Hakea, pronounced hey-kee-uh, which are not seen so much in cultivation, usually sport fairly noticeable flowers but in the case of Hakea archaeoides they are extraordinary.

|Hakea archaeoides floral detail|

|Hakea archaeoides floral detail|

The cone-like flowers present themselves in spring and summer displaying supercool scarlet styles that extend from glowingly golden perianths.  They look like intricately designed chandeliers of color. The perianths, at the base of the red styles, serve as little honey pots that hold a sweet store of nectar that hummingbirds and bees adore. In my opinion, a truly delicious design!

Hakea archaeoides grows up to 18 feet tall and 12 feet wide if left to its own devices. However, Hakea don't mind some tip pruning, so if you're vigilant, you could keep Hakea archaeoides reined in a bit.  It's extremely cool as a screening shrub or specimen small tree because it seems very unassuming with its handsomely elliptical, narrow green, pinstriped foliage, and calmingly mottled elephant-like trunk(s).  Then when spring comes...BAM!...it produces outrageous ornaments of floral fantasy. Added bonus...new stem growth appears as reddish stems sprouting luxurious new foliage blushed in gorgeous bronze tones.

|Hakea archaeoides foliage + flower + color|

|Hakea archaeoides foliage + flower + color|

Hakea archaeoides likes part sun situations, well-draining average to poor soil, regular water, becomes drought tolerant once established, and is hardy down to 25 degrees fahrenheit/-3 degrees celsius.  Oh, and since it's in the Protea family it doesn't like to be fertilized.  Fertilizer can damage or kill this plant.   So why not, like the athletic shoe ad says, think different when it comes to what you plant in your garden.  Yeah, there are Japanese Maples and Elm trees but why not go all punk rock on your garden and get the neighbors talking about what's growing next door. Something like a Hakea would certainly make things more interesting.  Go on then...find one...plant it.  You know you want to.