Planet Devon

Have you spotted signs of climate change in Devon? Do you have unusual things growing in your garden? Have your say here.

kris cuttler
ginger plants in Sidmouth gardens

prema
I have musa basjoo fruiting at the moment, the plant is 10'4in.I planted it about 10 years ago.I have also planted avocado,lichi,coffee,jacaranda,dragon fruit,franjipani,passion fruit-had 6 fruits last year. I am opening my garden for MacMillan cancer support on 3rd August 2-5

Matt Smithers
John Richmond is quite correct - there is nothing unusual about banana plants either in Devon or elsewhere. The BBC ought to be better informed. The reason for the presence of more and more idiosyncratic plants is that a) the plants are more easily available b) gardeners are more willing to experiment c) gardeners are better informed than in past years. In addition, people are on the lookout for each and every scrap of evidence for climate change.

ray murrell
i live in ipswich suffolk and have just discovered a pod of bananas to my delight! is this unsual

wendy owen
had a pod of bananas last october i live at bittaford on the edge of the moor

John Walker
There was already a banana plant fruiting at Overbecks National Trust garden near Salcombe last year.

Joe
It's just bananas to think that this can happen here in Devon.

John Richmond
This banana - Musa basjoo - is root hardy in the UK. In warmer gardens - lots of those down in Devon - the tall stems survive the winter and will usually flower once the clump is about 5-6 years old. Down here in the South West it's been flowering and fruiting for decades in warm gardens. The fruit isn't edible - but neither is it rare.

douglas arnold
Interestingly, I tried a Lychee stone, which I planted indoors in a pot last summer and put out this spring. It has survived the cold snaps and I wait with interest to see if it makes it through the winter, facing west against the house wall.

sam shewry
the only thing i noticed and it scared me was a few months ago in one day it was beautiful sunshine, then rain, then snow, then hail, then thunder and lightning and then sunshine again all in one day! i though the world was going to end!!!!