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!