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 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.

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 '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.

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.

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 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!

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.

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 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!

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 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!

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.

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 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 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.

Green can be a quiet color of sorts.  It conjures feelings of restfulness and balance. Now add a dreamy, 'draizy', romantic burst of lilac purple color to that green and you'll create an extravagantly restful experience.  Like lying about in a chaise lounge dappled in the warming mediterranean sun with a view of an inviting azure blue atlantic ocean.  One way to capture this experience is to know and grow Cheirolophus canariensis sometimes referred to as Centaurea canariensis.  Let me tell you, this plant is almost an exclusive to The Plant Provocateur because it is rare, endangered, and unusual to find in cultivation.  I saw this beautiful perennial herb blooming in the late afternoon sun in a garden and fell under its spell.  The 2 inch globe-like bursts of powdery purple flowers, set against the rich green fern-like foliage, look as if they would appear only in a daydream.  Something about them seems to capture the eye, calm the senses, and invite you to celebrate the sheer beauty of nature.

Cheirolophus canariensis comes to us from the island of Tenerife off the northern coast of Africa and south of Spain.  Tenerife is part of the Canary Island chain. Coming from a habitat such as this further gives Cheirolophus canariensis some glamorously exotic garden cred.  This perennial herb, as it is botanically known, grows into a shrub-like form up to 3 to 4 foot tall and wide.  It has elegantly, dissected fern-like foliage and blooms from late spring through summer.  It likes full to part sun conditions, well-draining soil, regular moisture, and is hardy down to around 20 degrees fahrenheit/-6 degrees celsius.  If you can find this verdant vision of fashionable foliage and beguiling bloom, get it, and grow it!  Check out botanical garden plant sales.  Who knows...maybe one day The Plant Provocateur will have it for the offering.  What would you think about that?

Remember Duran Duran?  Well today's gorgeous specimen reminds me of a lyric from one of their more provocative hits.  Girls On Film.  Recently, while tripping the light plantastic I came across an exotic floral-fall of a vine.  It had lush exotic foliage and was covered with sprays of cherry and pink flowers that reminded me of falling stars.  Standing before this vine I felt as if I had been transported to the foot of a waterfall of beauty.  It was a very calgon moment.  This bountifully blooming vine is called Quisqualis indica.  It's a woody climber that comes from faraway exotic locales like India, Malaysia, and East Africa.  It's got cool common names like Rangoon Creeper and Drunken Sailor.  It's also commonly referred to as Chinese Honeysuckle.  Whatever you want to call it, Quisqualis indica is all about its floral display.  Anywhere from May to September it can kick out an outrageous outpouring of narrow, 6" long trumpet-like flower buds that first open white at night.  The following days the flower color blushes pink then turns a rich cherry red color.  The display is awesome!  Interesting thing...the flowers kind of smell like a drunken sailor.  A bit heady, tangy, with a touch of fruity funk.  Definitely unforgettable.

Quisqualis indica is not often seen but looks cool to grow.  I hear it's a bit of a runner but if you keep it in check and direct it to cover an arbor or trellis it makes a glamorous accoutrement for a garden setting.  This evergreen vine can grow up to and beyond 40 feet.  Quisqualis indica likes full sun, well-draining, fertile soil, regular water, and thrives best in temps above 40 degrees fahrenheit/4 degrees celsius. However, it is hardy down to around 30 degrees fahrenheit/-1 degree celsius. So that makes it a tender perennial in my book.  The kind you want to bring indoors when the temps are heading below its hardiness.  One other thing to note about this vine is that it is thorny.  The thorns are hooked and can catch you if you're not careful.  With its super sumptuous flowers, fascinating fragrance, and lux look, Quisqualis indica is yet another exotic vine worth knowing and growing.

There is a place in the world that many know as the location of Middle Earth.  Others know it as New Zealand.  New Zealand is a place where the landscape is rugged yet pristine.  The plant diversity of New Zealand is extraordinarily fascinating.  In an area known as Marlborough on the north shore of the south island of New Zealand, known for its world famous wine region and breathtaking beauty, comes a daisy of untold beauty.  Now this is not your ordinary daisy.  It is a daisy of heavenly horticulture.  Let me introduce you to Pachystegia insignis commonly referred to as the Marlborough Rock Daisy.  Pachystegia insignis can be found in its natural habitat climbing, so to speak, and thriving in the crevices of rocky areas and cliffs of the mountains in the Marlborough region.  Of all places, I first saw this plant growing in a glasshouse at the Berlin Botanical Garden in Germany.

When I first saw this flower in bloom I was truly taken by its super cool patterned buds.  Something about the naturally tiled texture made my planting design senses tingle.

Pachystegia insignis is considered an evergreen shrub.  It grows up to 3 feet tall and wide.  It outfits itself with handsome leathery leaves edged in downy white tomentose felt-like fuzz.  That tomentose texture continues on the underside of the foliage and coats stems in woolly white.  In late spring/early summer, flower heads patterned with sophisticated geometric forms rise, are held above foliage, and open to reveal ivory white daisies with buttery yellow centers.  To witness these plants in bloom is to stare into the face of nature's purity.  Beauty uncontaminated. Otherworldly and absolute.

I have grown Pachystegia insignis in both northern and southern California.  It does great in rock gardens, looks cool when paired with delicate looking grasses, and thrives in average, well-draining garden soils.  I just think its such a cool plant because around these parts you'll never see anything like it!  Pachystegia insignis like full to part sun conditions, well-draining soil, and can tolerate hot/dry conditions with occasional water when established.  They're hardy down to around 15 degrees fahrenheit/-9 degrees celsius.  If you find one of these babies...snatch it up and claim it as your own!  Its silver scintillation will satisfy your plantaholic desires and purify your garden lovin' soul!