Sub-tropical Glasshouse at Hall Place, Bexley

A visit to the sub-tropical glasshouse at Hall Place, Bexley. An excellent plan for a late winter garden visit or on a cool early spring day when winter still seems near.

Many of the plants are only suitable for growing in a ‘proper’ glasshouse, ie they wouldn’t survive a British winter outside. But walking round, I find it interesting to note how many of these sub-tropical plants are familiar to us as house plants or for summer bedding. A few of them will even survive in the gentler climes of Cornwall and the Scilly Isles. And in the sheltered gardens nestled within the heat islands of urban conurbations.

Which made me think that perhaps you ‘d be interested too. So here are familiar house plants in the sub-tropical glasshouse at Hall Place. And some that you may have grown as summer bedding plants in your garden.

Sub-tropical Glasshouse at Hall Place – House Plants

Aechmea fasciata

A Bromeliad also known as the silver urn plant, silver vase plant. It is an epiphyte, meaning it grows on another plant, sharing some of its food resources but it is not a parasite. It can be grown on a mossy pole rather than in soil. If you are growing it in a soil, it needs to be very free draining.
There is another, similar Bromeliad, Aechmea primera, which also has silver leaves. the most obvious difference is that Aechmea fasciata has serrated leaf edges, whilst Aechmea primera has smooth edges. They are both attractive house plants.

Bird of Paradise plant

Botanically known as Strelitzia reginae, with a further common name of crane flower this stunning flower is a native of South Africa. Its an evergreen perennial with a long flowering period in the right conditions.
As a house plant it is certainly a statement piece adding drama through its birdlike shape and bright colours.

Cyclamen

This is the tender Cyclamen persicum, sometimes called the florists cyclamen. Native to a wide swathe of the eastern and southern Mediterranean. A popular house plant for winter with blooms in bright pink through to white, generally scented. Don’t try planting this one in your northern European garden and expect it to flower outside next winter.

Orchid

Many orchids are easy to grow as houseplants, but some do require more care than many of give to our houseplants. The exotic, sub-tropical orchids are often epiphytic. Phalaenopsis, the most frequently found orchid for sale in supermarkets, are tropical epiphytes from South-east Asia. And obviously fairly tolerant if they can withstand the less-than-horticultural care given to most of them at point of sale.

Poinsettia

Proof that poinsettias can live beyond Boxing Day! Native to Mexico, the colour comes from bracts, which are modified leaves.
This particular juxtaposition of bright red bracts with the cyclamens’ carmine pink petals is stunning. An idea to copy in your own home, perhaps?

Spider plant

Also known as spider ivy, airplane plant, hen and chickens, it is native to tropical and southern Africa. Chlorophytum comosum, the Spider plant, is one of the most popular house plants in its variegated leaf form. Tolerant of a wide range of conditions, they have been shown to reduce indoor air pollution. Definitely a plant to have in your home office! Not a hanging plant in the usual sense, as it is the plantlets that grow along the trailing stems.

Sub-tropical Glasshouse at Hall Place – Summer Bedding Plants

Abutilon

Also known as the parlour maple and flowering maple due to the similar leaf shape, Abutilons are no relation to acers. They are actually members of the mallow family and have a wide distribution in tropics and sub-tropics. There are both fully tender and half-hardy varieties, evergreen and deciduous. Although commonly used as summer bedding plants, some abutilons will survive outside in milder areas of the UK. Abutilons are attractive as a centrepiece to a summer bedding display, as their height allows the bell-shaped blooms to be in full view.

Cigar plant

Cuphea ignea goes by the common names of cigar plant, firecracker plant, cigar flower and Mexican cigar. Its native to Mexico and Jamaica, where it makes a small evergreen shrub. In the British climate we have to treat it as a tender perennial and bring it inside over winter. Or, as more frequently happens, use it as an annual bedding plant, when it doesn’t reach its full growth potential. Nevertheless, the flowers look stunning in the border and in patio pots.

Salvia

There are many Salvias, including the culinary herb we know as Sage, which are hardy in the UK. Indeed, there are a good few shrubby salvias and herbaceous salvias to grace our borders across much of the British Isles.
And then there are the tender, Mediterranean and sub-tropical salvias. Of which Salvia splendens, commonly called pineapple sage, is one. With aromatic, edible foliage and bright red flowers it can be a welcome addition to your summer bedding. It’s a fast grower, so not for small scale displays. Planted to surround the pale-yellow flowered Abutilon it would be gorgeous in a circular bed in your front garden.

And two more …Yes a repeat, but that only shows how there is this cross-over between many house plants and plants for summer bedding.

Bird of Paradise plant
The Strelitzia makes a stunning pot plant for a balcony, patio or courtyard during the warmer months. Bring it inside for overwintering though.

Spider plant
You may have noticed a proliferation of spider plants used as edging for raised beds in Mediterranean gardens. Whilst you’re unlikely to keep them outside all year in Britain, spider plants make easy care plants for summer hanging baskets.

Sub-tropical Glasshouse at Hall Place – and lastly…

Do you ever wonder why so many large glasshouses have pools in them? It’s not just for the terrapins and fish to enjoy, as they do in the sub-tropical glasshouse at Hall Place. It’s not even so that the gardeners can grow aquatic plants (although they generally do take advantage of the watery habitat).

Glasshouses and greenhouses are solar collectors which is why it’s always warmer even in an unheated greenhouse on a frosty day. The water acts as a heat sink. Which is making use of the pool’s ability to absorb heat during the day and slowly release it overnight.

It’s a trick I use in my own greenhouse, although I don’t have a pool with terrapins! Using one or two buckets of water as a heat sink is sufficient for a small greenhouse. Watering cans and bottles can also be used. Painting them black helps with the heat absorption, but I must admit I haven’t done that.

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The sub-tropical glasshouse at Hall Place is part of the 65-acre gardens surrounding this Tudor and Jacobean Manor in Bexley. Situated on the Kent / south London borders, the house and gardens are a great place to visit, and I’ll be writing more about the formal gardens, walled garden and Queens Beast topiary at Hall Place in other blogs.