Remarkable Species

A remarkable plant does not automatically have to be the rarest or most expensive species. At ExoticsAtHome, we primarily use the term for plants that occupy a distinctive place within a collection because of their origin, growth form, limited availability or cultivation.

Some species are remarkable because they are rarely found in the regular trade. With other plants, their appeal lies in their development, natural habitat or the challenge of cultivating them from seed.

More Beautiful, Diverse and Challenging

Herbert’s true passion lies with the more tropical palm species and plants. He considers these more beautiful, more diverse and more difficult to cultivate, which also makes them more challenging.

For him, a plant does not therefore have to be remarkable solely because it is rare. Variation between species, an unusual growth form or a difficult and lengthy cultivation process can also give a plant a special place within the collection.

Why a Species May Have Limited Availability

Some plants produce very little viable seed, occur only within a small natural range or are cultivated by only a few growers. Other species germinate slowly, grow slowly or require specific conditions during cultivation.

As a result, it can take a long time for a species to become available in a saleable size. The freshness and availability of seed also determine whether a plant can be cultivated on a larger scale.

Origin and Differences Between Populations

Herbert Riphagen visits the natural habitats of palm species to obtain fresh seed. Our palms are often cultivated from our own seed. These are frequently exclusive species, for example from Trachycarpus, Licuala or Johannesteijsmannia.

Different origins or populations can also occur within a single species. Herbert tested different origins in practice and gained experience with the differences between plants.

Climate change and other factors are placing some populations under pressure in various locations. It is therefore important to protect natural habitats in cooperation with local communities, so that fresh seed can continue to be harvested in the future.

Searching Beyond the Regular Range

Thanks to Herbert’s plant knowledge and his many contacts and journeys through the jungle, ExoticsAtHome also supplies many plants to botanical gardens. This often involves plant lists containing species that are not always available and sometimes need to be specifically sought in nature.

The ExoticsAtHome vision is to offer new plant species before they are propagated in a laboratory. Because these plants are also supplied to botanical gardens, exclusive species can be kept in stock. In addition, ExoticsAtHome primarily tries to offer plants that others do not have.

Time, Selection and Cultivation

A species found during a journey, through a contact or at the request of a botanical garden often cannot be offered immediately. When the species is cultivated from seed, that seed must first be obtained and germinated, after which the young plants are slowly cultivated and monitored.

The Thai phase of recent years has brought Herbert back to the core: searching, selecting, cultivating plants slowly and discovering new species in nature to make remarkable plants available internationally.

A Plant with a Story

Riphagen’s significance did not lie in formally naming new species. He made rare plants visible, brought plant material and stories to Europe and tested different origins in practice.

ExoticsAtHome wants not only to offer a remarkable plant, but also, wherever possible, to make its origin, development and story visible. We do this using practical knowledge and photographs we have taken ourselves.