Plant Category: Himalayas

Alocasia ‘Ninja’ plants thrive in a very humid environment making these plants ideally suited to growing inside a terrarium, vivarium, or bottle garden.  However, terrariums and bottle gardens are not universally the same, different enclosures will provide contrasting growing conditions.  When choosing a terrarium and deciding on a location to cultivate Alocasia ‘Ninja’, remember that these plants won’t be happy in a shaded environment – Alocasia ‘Ninja’ require bright but indirect light to be able to thrive. 

Cutting Celery is also known by the botanical name, Apium graveolens.  Cutting Celery is closely related to celery and celeriac, but these particular seeds have been selected and reselected especially for the flavour of their leaves.  The leaves taste like celery – it’s a strong flavour – so a little goes a long way, but it’s not too overpowering.  I really enjoy the taste of Cutting Celery leaves. 

‘Parcel’  or ‘Par-Cel’ is also known by the botanical name, Apium graveolens.  This is a hardy biennial plant that produces edible leaves with a strong flavour of celery; Parcel’s stems are edible too, but it is the pungent leaves that this plant is usually grown for.  The name of ‘Parcel’ was given because this edible plant has foliage that resembles parsley but when eaten it has the flavour of celery; so the plant’s common name is an amalgamation of the two names – ‘Parcel’.

Juniper is also known by its botanical name, Juniperus communis.  Juniperus communis is an evergreen conifer with spiky needles.  Plants are very hardy and they flourish in exposed and sheltered locations.  These plants need a bright and sunny position; Juniperus communis is happy growing in almost any moist but well-drained soil, including stony ground and chalk.  When choosing where to plant Juniperus communis, avoid shaded areas and soils that are prone to water-logging. 

Myosotis scorpioides alba is also known as the Water Forget-Me-Not.  This pretty plant requires continually wet conditions; Myosotis scorpioides alba grows in reliably wet bog gardens, as well as in streams, and ponds.  If you have a patio garden and don’t have room for a pond you can still grow Myosotis scorpioides alba by creating a container pond or bog garden .

Inula hookeri is a clump forming, herbaceous perennial from China.  I love daisies and I adore these sunny yellow flowers and I’m very fond of Inula hookeri’s super soft leaves.  Next time you see this plant, reach out and stroke a leaf, it’s soft and furry.  I appreciate this plant because its flowers attract bees and butterflies to my garden. 

Alliaria petiolata is a commonly found wildflower in Europe, Asia, and parts of Africa.  Whenever its foliage is bruised, crushed, or trampled, this plant’s leaves release a scent that’s reminiscent of garlic; as a consequence, in the UK, Alliaria petiolata is often called Garlic Mustard, or Hedge Garlic.  Another common name for Alliaria petiolata is Jack-by-the hedge, which reflects one of this plant’s habitats and Alliaria petiolata’s prominence as a plant that lines our hedgerows. 

Fritillaria imperialis ‘Aurora’ are statement plants with large vibrant orange coloured, pendulous flowers that really create impact in the garden.  Often referred to as Crown Imperials, these bulbous perennials form tall plants that reach up to around 1m (3.2ft) tall.

I’ve grown my Fritillaria imperialis ‘Aurora’ in large containers of peat-free compost.  I’ve found these Fritillaries to be strong and sturdy plants that haven’t required any staking or support. 

Celeriac (also known by the botanical name Apium graveolens var. rapaceum) is not the easiest vegetable to grow; these plants have a long growing season and the seeds need to be started off in the warmth, fairly early in the season.  Celeriac seedlings will need to be protected inside a glasshouse, polytunnel, or conservatory, until all risk of frost has passed. 

Phalaenopsis pulcherrima alba is the white flowered form of Phalaenopsis pulcherrima.  This is a small sized orchid species.  Plants usually grow as a terrestrial or lithophytic plants; although Phalaenopsis pulcherrima alba can also be grown as an epiphyte.

Origanum onites is one of my favourite plants; its a pretty little thing with a long flowering period; plants bloom over the summer months.  This is a superb plant for a wildlife garden.  Origanum onites plants produce an abundance of these sweet, dainty flowers that are adored by bees, butterflies, hoverflies, and moths.  Commonly known as marjoram, Origanum onites is a culinary and medicinal herb with aromatic leaves that will enhance a wide variety of culinary dishes.

Tanacetum parthenium is a useful herbaceous perennial.  This is a really easy to grow, undemanding plant that flowers during the summer months.  I cut my plants back heavily after their flowers fade.  I usually cut my plants right back to the ground – don’t worry – this doesn’t harm the plants – they soon grow up and flower again!  Plants bloom in cycles, from June until September.

Carrots, also known by their botanical name of Daucus carota, are an easy to grow, delicious root vegetable.  There are a wide range of carrot cultivars available for gardeners to grow, from the more regularly seen orange coloured carrots, to red, purple, white, or yellow coloured carrots.  I enjoy the subtle differences in the taste and texture of the carrots of each colour variation. 

Paphiopedilum fairrieanum is a terrestrial, lithophytic, and epiphytic orchid species that is often found growing upon rocks.  Plants can also be found growing in gravel and leaf litter, alongside, and in amongst grasses, in India.

Paphiopedilum fairrieanum is a beautiful but now rare and critically endangered orchid species.  These special plants have become increasingly threatened in their native environment, due to over collection in the wild, by collectors who sell Paphiopedilum plants to the horticultural trade. 

Phalaenopsis pulcherrima is a terrestrial, lithophytic, and at times epiphytic orchid species, which can be found growing in a wide range of locations including: Vietnam, Singapore, Sumatra, Borneo, Thailand, Laos, Malaysia, and Cambodia.

In its native environment, Phalaenopsos pulcherrima grows as a terrestrial orchid, in free draining, sandy soils.  This orchid can be found growing in areas that enjoy both the shelter of trees, shrubs, and taller plants, yet receive bright sunlight and good air circulation. 

Chiloschista lunifera is a epiphytic orchid species, which grows on trees, in areas of deciduous and semi deciduous forest in Myanmar, India, Assam, and the Himalayas.  Chiloschista lunifera is a small, naturally leafless orchid species, which produces striking, dark red-maroon flowers, which are outlined in a vibrant lime-yellow colour.

To grow at its best, Chiloschista lunifera requires filtered and diffused, indirect light, warm to hot temperatures, and a very humid environment. 

Phalaenopsis lobbii f. flavilabia is a form of miniature, epiphytic orchid, which produces rather cute, white and yellow coloured flowers.  This miniature orchid’s pastel yellow coloured blooms are very pretty indeed.  This particular orchid is the yellow flowered form of Phalaenopsis lobbii.

Phalaenopsis lobbii f. flavilabia blooms from late winter, through to mid to late spring.  Spring is this Phalaenopsis species’ main flowering time, but this miniature orchid may bloom twice a year or more, given favourable growing conditions. 

Phalaenopsis taenialis is a miniature, epiphytic orchid species, which originates from a number of locations, including Bhutan, Myanmar, and the Himalayas.  In teh wild, these miniature orchids can be found growing at the tops of trees, on the edges of forests.

Please note that I previously listed my Phalaenopsis taenialis plants as Phalaenopsis braceana (which is the name I purchased this plant as). 

Phalaenopsis deliciosa var. alba is the white form of Phalaenopsis deliciosa.

Phalaenopsis deliciosa var. alba is a miniature, epiphytic orchid species, which originates from many places including: Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar, Vietnam, and the Philippines.  Plants can usually be found growing upon trees, in areas of humid forest.  This orchid species is often found growing near water.

You can see photographs of this Phalaenopsis deliciosa var.

Phalaenopsis deliciosa is a miniature, epiphytic orchid species, which originates from many places, including: Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar, Vietnam, Thailand, India, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and the Philippines.  This epiphytic orchid species is often found growing upon trees that are growing near water; plants flourish in humid, forested areas.

In its native environment, Phalaenopsis deliciosa enjoys warm to hot temperatures and very high humidity, it’s important to try to replicate these conditions to grow this orchid successfully.