All of the plants in the vase this week are, to me, foreign versions of common plants grown further north. The pink and white flowers are Desert Roses, from the deserts of Africa and the Arabian peninsula and a succulent to boot. White and green flowers are from a tropical Begonia that shoots up flowers about three feet tall and then we have the giant Dianthus. Tropical foreigners from my garden.
Desert Roses (Adenium obesum) are a mad thing. This is a red one frying on the pavement and finding its happy place. It doesn’t look much like a typical rose bush.
The Begonia in the arrangement is Lotusleaf. Definitely the biggest Begonia I have ever seen. It is a common roadside plant in Central America and pretty indestructible once established in my garden.
A closer view.
Draping over the edge of the vase, Desert Rose (Adenium obesum); green seed heads and white, frothy flowers are from Lotusleaf Begonia (Begonia nelumbifolia); pink flowers are Giant Dianthus; chartreuse leaves are a coleus of some sort, and the deep green foliage in back is from a Lady Palm (Rhapis excelsa). The vase is a thrift store find.
We are transitioning into warmer weather here with the weather guessers trumpeting dire warnings about a violent hurricane season. After a while I realized they really have no idea.I am still planting a few new things, tempting fate!
Here’s to enjoying spring and seeing a few new vases this Monday. Follow this link to visit Cathy and see the vases in the comments section.
The Shrub Queen 
The palm frond adds nice drama. Lovely!
Weather forecasters are 50% accurate… eventually, the odds fall in their favor. 🤣
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Thanks, Eliza. the close up made me realize it needed fertilizer. Weather forecasting is a rare job where it doesn’t really matter if you’re right…
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The Desert Rose is a new plant to me, and to think it can grow away in a little cauldron in the direct sun. It is also really the star in your dramatic arrangement today.
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What a great theme – and yet another opportunity to showcase more plants some of us won’t have heard of! They make a great combination today 👍
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Thanks, Cathy
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The flowers are certainly interesting. The Desert Rose looks so sparse, but I guess that is the way it grows. I wonder if many grow together in the wild. I think my begonia is different as the flowers aren’t as tall and I don’t think the leaves are as big. I think every year they send out dire hurricane predictions, but I don’t want to jinx it either.
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It is sparse, the other one has many more flowers. Begonia is definitely different, though I like the foliage on yours. No jinxing!
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Gee, I am debating the retrieval of a desert rose from Brent’s garden when I go there in the next week or so. (I am supposed to leave on Wednesday, but as typical, may be delayed until at least Sunday.) I hate to leave it there, but I believe that it is actually happier while neglected there than it would be here while I can not tend to it much. It was left by a neighbor who relocated, so deserves a good home. Winters are a bit warmer and drier there.
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The DR is from a dry winter season place, so they do like that and being ignored.
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Your foreign visitors are putting on a good show, Amelia. I’m most impressed by the desert roses as I’ve managed to kill Adeniums twice! They REALLY don’t like excess water, which you’d think would make them ideal for my garden ;) Seeing yours in flower makes me want to try one again, after all the third time is often the charm.
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Thanks, Kris. The DR loves being ignored. They grow in old, dried out potting soil on the east side of the house in pots. I have rooted several cuttings and they are scattered around.
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What a stunning vase with so many plants that are unfamiliar to me….I do love that desert rose.
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Thank you, I am enjoying the Desert Roses this year.
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They often can’t even forecast what tomorrow will be like, so their hurricane season warnings are probably just media hype! Hope so anyway. Lovely vase – desert roses are completely foreign to me and would no doubt hate it here! LOL! They seem happy in your garden though and look lovely in the vase. 😃
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Yes, hoping for media hype! I am sure the Desert Roses would hate your garden. They really enjoy the heat and the April tantrum would do them in.
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This arrangement is full of drama! Love the palm leaves and the Adenium!
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Thanks, Tracy
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Oh that’s a most striking arrangement Amelia. I like the twisted shape of the desert rose and wish that we could grow such plants. The begonia flowers are reminiscent of another flower but I just can’t think think what at the moment. Will keep my fingers crossed for you that the forecasts of a violent hurricane season are completely off the mark. Here it’s not unusual to have torrential rain when the forecast is saying that there is no chance of rain!
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Your combination of tropical strangers is spectacular. And your desert rose makes me slightly envious. 😉 I always struggle with container plants, and it won’t survive our winters in the ground here, alas! That is so gorgeous, though, it makes me want to try…
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