The wonderfully eccentric ‘Walter Shrimpton’ produces bizarre bronze-yellow flowers with horizontal white band halfway up, and a heavy concentration of rich brown speckling at the bottom. It might look as if it needs hothouse conditions and pampering, but it is surprisingly easy to grow and should be kept in a cool environment.

Parrot’s Flower (Heliconia psittacorum)

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Related to the large-leaved banana trees, heliconias have first-rate foliage and bright colors. Parrot’s flower has leathery, rich green leaves about 12 inches long with red stalks and, in summer, orange-red flowers. Its size, shape and color make it a star conservatory plant, and it needs a big space where it can be clearly seen.

Brazilian Firecracker (Manettia luteorubra)

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A modest, evergreen, twining South American climber, it gets its firecracker name because it has a profusion of small, bright red, tubular flowers, each with an eye-catching yellow mouth, which stand out well against the background of green leaves. Growit up a set of horizontal wall wire, or tie it to a group of canes.

Butterfly Orchid (Psychopsis papilio)

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A spectacular Central and South American orchid, P. papilio has two-winged, orange-brown flowers with three long antennae poking out. The blooms appear on stems up to 4 feet high that should be left along in case more flowers appear. The easiest to grow it is in a conservatory pot, but it need high temperatures 85° C or more and with high humidity.

Forest Lily (Veltheimia bracteata)

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A striking South African bulb, V. bracteata has a marvelous rosette of thick, strappy, shiny leaves that grow up to 14 inches long. Its distinctive spring flowers grow in clusters of up to about 60 narrow, pinkish tubes, right at the tip of its purple-green stems.

Blood Lily (Scadoxus multiflorus subsp. katherinae)

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Also known as Catherine Wheel, this remarkable, exotically showy, almost evergreen, tropical South African plant produces a tall stem, topped by a large ball consisting of dozens of tiny red flowers followed by small orange berries. The leaves, which can be up to 9 inches long, have a wavy edge and form a cluster at the base of the stem.

Busy Lizzie (Impatiens niamniamenis ‘Congo Cockatoo’)

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This tender African busy Lizzie is a real eye-catcher with its brash yellow flowers and red spurs that resemble a parrot’s bill. The effect is enlivened by the large 8 inches long, dark green leaves. ‘Congo Cockatoo’ is naturally bushy, but pinching out the growing tips in spring makes it even more so, and creates further flowers.

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