Exotics for the greenhouse

If you really want a talking point, grow one or more of these!

Zingiber fragile (Ginger) - this ginger grows to about six feet and forms shining red fruit stands during winter. It prefers shaded places and makes a nice indoor plant as it has beautiful stem colours.

Pineapple – because prolonged cold above freezing retards growth, delays maturity and causes the fruit to be more acid, pineapples are usually grown in greenhouses. They are drought-tolerant and make an interesting potted plant.

Datura - which contains the alkaloids scopolamine and atropine, has long been used as a poison and hallucinogen. The dose-response curve for the combination of alkaloids is very rapid, so it’s easy to consume fatal overdose – it is also known as the poison of South American poison darts and the plants have a heavy scent from their trumpet shaped flower which is released at night.

Hibiscus - In ancient Egypt, hibiscus flowers were associated with lust. The Egyptians believed that tea made with red hibiscus flowers and sepals could induce licentious cravings in women. As a result, for many centuries Egyptian women were forbidden to drink hibiscus tea. The hibiscus plays an unusual part in the cultural traditions of some Caribbean countries and the flowers are often carried in island wedding bouquets because they are believed to ward off bad omens. Hibiscus, especially in a heated greenhouse, is a glory; it fills the entire space with its colour and fragrance.

Gossypium (Cotton Tree) - Cotton shrubs can grow up to ten feet, but you can prune them to suit your space. The seeds are contained in a capsule called a boll, each seed surrounded by downy fibres called lint which is spun into cotton.