Presenter: Melissa King

Are you an avid collector of anything? Gem stones, butterflies even dinosaurs? Well how about weird and wonderful plants?

Tillandsias are utterly fascinating and deserve a place in anyone’s collection. They are also called living air plants because believe it or not they will grow suspended in nothing but air, hanging from the branches of trees or almost anything. They survive by capturing all the water and nutrients they need through small scales on the leaf surface. If you are a first timer growing these plants then start with an easy species like Blushing Bride (Tillandsia ionantha) with pretty pink tones or Tillandsia caput-medusae also known as Air Plant, with the crazy hairstyle. You can even try the eerie looking Spanish Moss or Old Mans Beard (Tillandsia usneoides).

Always eye-catching, colourful and unique and dangerous are words that sum up the Euphorbia milii hybrids (Crown of Thorns). They are also very rewarding because they are tough, easy care and flower throughout the year.

Melissa looks at a group of bromeliads that all come from the tropical and subtropical forests of Central and South America. They live in the canopies of trees and the undergrowth, so they enjoy reasonable levels of shade. The group includes beauties like Guzmania (Guzmania Hybrid Cultivar), which has striking long-lasting flower bracts, Vriesea (Vriesea Hybrid Cultivar) with and the brilliantly coloured Tillandsia cyanea.

Orchids are the most exotic looking flowers and with such an enormous variety its no wonder they are one of the world’s most collected plants.

For a really unusual twist take a look at the Upside Down Orchid (Stanhopea wardii). It grows vertically downwards through the potting mix and flowers underneath the plant, with spectacular displays from spring to autumn. Butterfly or Moth Orchids (Phalaenopsis Hybrid Cultivar) also have a particular magic, with long graceful stems and waxy flowers that last for ages. The King of Orchids would have to be the Cattleya (Cattleya Hybrid), as one of the wonders of the plant kingdom with giant flowers up to 20 cm across.

The Desert Rose (Adenium obesum cv.) is just irresistible. It is native to east Africa and is closely related to the Oleander. It grows in dry arid environments and can survive really high temperatures.

The large swollen stem means it can thrive with very little water. The flowers are very pretty and they are displayed on the tips of the new growth from spring to autumn. It is the perfect potted plant for a sunny window sill or balcony.

The plants should all come with a label “Warning I am addictive”, because whether you are a collector or not, these weird and wonderful choices all deserve a place in the garden.