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Ornamental pineapples Like all pineapples, they are a type of bromeliad. Originated in tropical America and the Caribbean, explorers have moved the pineapple to all tropical parts of the world. Ornamental pineapples are grown just for their looks, while the edible pineapple is a standard fruit appreciated worldwide. It’s prettier relative, the ornamental pineapple, is […]
Orchids are the most intriguing flowering plants. And they are very easy to grow.I am going to tell you about Phalaenopsis, the moth orchid. It is one of the most common and the easiest to grow in Florida. It is an especially good choice for a beginner. They are large and come in a wide […]
Crown of Thorns (Euphorbia milii) The common names have alluded that the crown of thorns worn by Christ at the time of his crucifixion was made from stems of this plant. They are pliable and can be intertwined into a circle. It’s a native to Madagascar, and thought to have been brought to the Middle […]
Yellow, five-petaled buttercup-like flowers bloom prolifically on this butterfly bush. Commonly called Cuban Buttercup or yellow alder. Growing buttercup bushes provide continued blossoms.Botanically called Turnera ulmifolisa, this spreading ground cover or small bush brightens up bare spots in the landscape with bright yellow flowers that bloom in the morning and last all day.The rewards of […]
Poinsettias The familiar red poinsettias, which are a favorite flower for the holiday season, every year grow well in this area – given the proper care.The bright-red petals are actually leaves in the top of the plant; they surround the actual flowers, which are yellow or green and accent the center of the display. Natives […]
Hibiscus The hibiscus, which loves the Florida climate, is a popular flower here. Although most are red, the colors actually range from white through pink, yellow, orange, lavender, and even blue. They all have five large petals, and some exotic ones are beautifully ruffled.It’s part of the Malvaceae family.It likes some fertilizer twice a year […]
Cassia tree Cassia fistula, commonly known as the golden shower tree, is a flowering plant in the subfamily Casalpiaceae of the legume family Fabaceae. Cassia trees, are known for their display of delightfully showy and bright clusters of yellow flowers. If you have room for a tree that can get up to 35 feet tall […]
Staghorn ferns Staghorn ferns look like deer or elk antlers, hence the unusual name, The ferns are in the genus Platycerium of the polypod family. These plants do the best growing in the semi-shade and do well in the fork on a tree. They can be mounted on boards or driftwood, and can hang in a […]
Confederate jasmine vine Tracelospermum jasminoinodes, a species of the flowering plant in the family Apocynace, has the common name of Confederate jasmine. It features beautiful and fragrant white, tiny star-shaped blooms and glossy dark-green tiny leaves. A bonus is the plant attracts pollinator butterflies and bees. This plant needs to climb on a trellis or a fence. It blooms several times a year, […]
The Brazilian red cloak is a monotypic genus of plants containing a single species, Megaskepasma erytrochlamys. The plant family is Acanthaceae. This is a free-branching, upright, showy, and tropical shrub that is native to Venezuela, and is also found throughout the tropical Americas. Growing from 6 to 8 feet tall and wide, this evergreen semi-woody […]