GARDENER Mike Clifford was amazed when a Brazilian plant blossomed for the first time outside in midwinter due to the unseasonably warm weather.

Mike has cultivated thousands of rare species from across the globe in the garden of his quaint English bungalow.

But he was in disbelief when his South American bromeliad - or Aechmea Recurvata - produced flowers.

The plant, which is adapted to the tropical conditions of Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina, must usually be kept under cover to protect it from winter frosts.

But Mike has kept it alive in his garden in Poole for several years, owing to the south coast's milder micro-climate.

And this winter the bromeliad has produced a cluster of vibrant pink flowers at the centre of its stiff curved leaves.

Mike, 60, said: "I have a warmer micro-climate down here which allows me to grow lots of species which others couldn't.

"But it is unbelievable that this bromeliad has blossomed outside in December.

"We've had several light frosts already. It's survived a couple of winters already but this is the first time it's ever flowered

"It is one of the hardier bromeliads - even still it is very rare for it to produce flowers outside in winter.

"It would usually only do that inside a conservatory. It's because of the much warmer weather we've had this year."

So far this winter has been unusually warm with temperatures reaching record highs.

They soared to 16.5C on New Year's Eve - making it the hottest in recorded history.

According to Shoot Gardening, the bromeliad reaches maturity after three to six years and can grow to a height of just over a foot.

It suggests that British growers keep the plant in glass containers, greenhouses, or in conservatories.

The mother plant will only flower once during its lifetime and produce offshoots for the next generation, meaning the one in Mike's garden will now die.

He tends to his plants in the evenings and on weekends alongside his full-time job designing mobile homes.

The majority of plants in his 65ft long by 35ft wide garden must be dug up and packed away in autumn to protect them from the winter cold.

He replants the species in the spring and some of extraordinary flora can grow to 12ft in height in the summer months.