Tropical Plants

Tall spikes adorned with nearly 1/2" wide, deep velvety purple flowers with a contrasting white eye are produced from spring to frost to potentially year-round and attract a host of pollinators, especially larger bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Purple Porterweed, Stachytarpheta frantzii, is a naturally evergreen, shrubby tropical with a moderate branching habit and is cloaked in glossy deep green foliage. It commonly grows to about 3-4' high and wide by the end of the growing season but can become larger when grown under warm tropical conditions. This Porterweed is small enough to enjoy as a medium-sized container plant or as a colorful addition to a sunny garden or landscape. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in an average moist, fertile, average to well-drained soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 578

Huge drooping panicles of long lasting, lavender, star-shaped calyxes that are centered by royal purple 1/2'' rounded verbena-like flowers that may be produced anytime between January and August. The medium-green leaves are textured like sandpaper. A vigorous, naturally evergreen tropical twining vine that lends itself to use on arbors, large trellises, fences, or on nearly any sturdy structure. Queen's Wreath can also be trained into a tree form if given a supporting post. The flowers of Queen's Wreath attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Item# 12153

These beauties are about 18 inches tall above the pot, and healthy.  As of 4-17-2022

An exceptionally cold hardy and easy to grow bromeliad! The Queen's Tears Bromeliad produces large arching stems covered in big showy pink bracts the last bracts on the stems open to reveal hanging clusters of green flowers with delicately recurving petals edged in deep bluish purple, contrasting bright yellow stamens along with matching pink calyxes. The tropical, nectar rich flowers are produced in mid winter. The blue gray rosettes of foliage provide excellent contrast for the brightly colored flower spikes. Queen's Tears readily multiplies by rhizomes creating a dense mass of foliage and can be grown in a well draining soil or as a semi-epiphyte on a board. Item# 11117

Large clusters of long-lasting, light lavender, mauve, to purple calyxes serve as the backdrop for the contrasting deep red, 1" wide, butterfly shaped flowers that are produced throughout the warmer months of the year, as early as midspring to about mid fall. The Red Bleeding Heart Vine, Clerodendrum x speciosum, is a naturally evergreen, heirloom, twining, tropical climber that is one of the better and more reliable flowering vines for shaded areas, although it can also take *full sun, if acclimated, where it may be even more floriferous, and it attracts butterflies and likely hummingbirds. I have always found it interesting that many of the butterfly and moth pollinated species in the genus Clerodendrum appropriately have butterfly shaped flowers. The colorful bracts have the deepest purple coloration in full to partial sun conditions. Provide the Red Bleeding Heart Vine with a moist to average moist, fertile, average to well-drained soil for optimum vigor and flowering. This is a hybrid of the White Bleeding Heart Vine, C. thompsonae, and the Flaming Glory Bower Vine, C. splendens. Item# 599

The Red Butterfly Ginger produces large deep reddish orange to red flowers that emerge from a darkened flower spike atop the sturdy stems of rich green smooth tropical looking foliage. It very much resembles the White Butterfly Ginger when in flower other than the flower color but has darker foliage a more compact habit. The Red Butterfly Ginger is one of the earliest gingers to flower in our collection. Provide a semi-shaded location where it receives shade during the hottest portion of the day although it is fairly tolerant. The Red Butterfly Ginger will prefer an average moist, well-drained, moderately fertile soil. Item# 11521

Clusters of deep red, long-lasting, saucer-shaped calyxes are centered by deep red, 1" long, slightly curved tubular flowers and are produced along the arching stems beginning in late summer and early fall just in time for the fall hummingbird migration. Flowering may continue throughout winter and into spring in warm winter climates or will continue until the first hard frost or freeze in colder winter regions. The Red Chinese Hat, a relatively rare color form of Holmskioldia sanguinea, is a naturally evergreen, arching or scandent, tropical shrub growing to about 6-8' high and up to 8-12' wide, even as a dieback perennial in our zone 8B garden. It can utilized as a specimen planting, as an informal hedge, espalier it along a fence or on a trellis, and even as tree form or standard. Provide the Chinese Hat Plant with a full to mostly sunny site, in an average moist, fertile soil with average or better drainage for optimum vigor and flowering. See our Growing on the Edge Growing Guide for more on growing root hardy tropicals as perennials in the garden and landscape. Item# 11486

Brilliant crimson red bottlebrush-like flowers are produced in summer often into fall to potentially year-round under warm tropical conditions and attract hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees. Red Clusters Bottlebrush, a selection of Callistemon viminalis, is a vigorous freely flowering, naturally evergreen large shrub that can also be trained into a small tree form that matures to about 12' high by about 8' wide. In zone 8, the foliage may drop after hard freezes potentially reducing flowering and so this cultivar may be best grow in warmer winter climates like zones 9 and 10. They can also be enjoyed as container plants where not reliably hardy. Provide Bottlebrush with a full to mostly sunny site in an average to well-draining, fertile soil and they are moderately drought resistant once fully established. Item# 603

1" wide, deep red, Hibiscus-like flowers are produced from spring to fall to potentially year-round under warm tropical conditions attracting hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees. Red Dragon Rockrose, potentially a hybrid between the native Pavonia lasiopetala and the South American P. missionum, is a multi-stemmed, clump forming, naturally evergreen to semi-deciduous, tropical shrub adorned with deep green, lance-shaped foliage and growing to about 3-4' high and 2-3' wide. It is considered hardy in zones 9-11 and may act like a die-back perennial in areas that experience hard freezes. Where not hardy plants can be enjoyed as container plants or summer annuals. Provide a full sun to partly shaded site in a well-drained, average moist, fertile soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 13648

The large glowing red 'parent' flowers of the original El Capitolio Hibiscus appear to have a second smaller double bloom that is held out away from it creating a 'poodled' effect. The El Capitolio Hibiscus have the potential to flower throughout the year under good conditions and with enough warmth and sunlight.The large blooms often have a streak of white adding to their tropical beauty. Their unique form, flower size, vigor, and flower power all make the El Capitolio Hibiscus types some of our favorites for large tropical specimens. They can be used as formal or informal shrubs for hedging and screens, as tree forms, or even trained into large espalier. Caterpillar host: Gray hairstreak. Item# 610.

Small spike-like racemes composed of numerous 1-1/2" long, tubular, deep cherry red flowers are produced from spring to frost to potentially year-round under warm tropical conditions potentially attracting bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Red Fountains Skullcap, a selection of Scutellaria longifolia, is a mounding, naturally evergreen, herbaceous perennial perfectly suited for hanging baskets or container culture as a spiller or filler and is considered to be a root hardy, dieback perennial into zone 8. It can also be utilized as a groundcover for near the front of the border or landscape. Hanging basket culture will bring the nectar rich flowers within easy reach for hummingbirds. Provide an average moist to moist, fertile soil in full sun to partly shaded conditions for optimum vigor and flowering. Provide an organic mulch to protect the crown in areas where freezes occur if it is intended to be grown as a perennial. Item# 1201

Red Fountains Skullcap is considered by some to be hardy to zone 8A if provided with a breathable but insulative winter mulch like pine straw (a.k.a. pine needles).

This new variety of variegated Hibiscus is absolutely Red Hot with it's burgundy, red, pink, green, and white foliage. The new growth starts out nearly maroon and lightens to a hot pink that sticks with it all season long adding its color to the landscape in broad strokes. 3-4" wide glowing red flowers add to its elegance in spring and summer and are sure to attract hummingbirds, butterflies, and other pollinators. Caterpillar host: Gray hairstreak. Item# 9348

Clusters of dark red to red-orange daisy-like flowers with yellow fading to red 'eyes' are produced throughout the growing season, and potentially year-round under warm tropical conditions, on this vigorous and easy small to medium-sized vine. The Sao Paulo Mexican Love Vine, a somewhat rare selection of Senecio confusus, is a naturally evergreen, twining herbaceous tropical vine that can be grown as a die-back perennial in areas with mild winters, like zones 9-10 and even into 8B, if provided with a breathable insulative protective mulch for winter. It is vigorous enough to be grown as an annual in colder climates and can also be maintained as a container plant that is overwintered indoors. The Mexican Love Vine, a.k.a Mexican Flame Vine, is a heat and sunloving free-flowering tropical suitable for small to medium-sized trellises, fences, and can even be allowed to spill from hanging baskets. The flowers attract a variety of butterfly species and seem to be especially popular with migrating Monarchs as well as bees and hummingbirds. Provide a full to partly sunny site in any average to well-drained, fertile, average moist soil. Item# 612

Spikes topped by densely stacked pinecone-like bracts which are produced in summer emerge green and slowly deepen to red. Sunny yellow flowers emerge from between the bracts over a long period. The Shampoo Ginger or Pinecone Ginger is a hardy, clump forming rhizomatous perennial that produces deep green narrow tropical looking foliage that can reach 4-6' high. Prefers cool sunlight and an average moist, well-drained soil. Where not hardy this ginger is easy to enjoy and overwinter as a container plant. Long lasting cut flower. The flower shown is in between the green and red stage. Item# 11477

A seemingly continuous display of upright to arching spikes composed of large showy maroon bracts from which the individual pink lipped tubular flowers emerge from spring to fall to year round under warm tropical conditions. This plant has exceptional flower power and makes a beautiful display as a container plant specimen and in mixed container gardens as well as in the garden and landscape. The common Red Shrimp Plant, Justicia brandegeeana, is a heat loving, naturally evergreen, bushy, tropical plant with dark olive green foliage and grows to about 24" high by about 18" wide. It is both full sun and bright shade tolerant but tends to have the densest branching habit where it receives at least 4 hours or more of direct sunlight. Provide an average to well-drained, moderately fertile, average moist soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Attracts hummingbirds and the occasional larger butterfly and is an RHS Award of Garden Merit winner. Caterpillar host: Cuban Crescent, Texan Crescent, White Peacock, and Malachite. Item# 620

New for 2025! This Texas Superstar® selection produces large, two-toned intense red and gold pink flowers from spring or early summer until frost, to potentially year round in frost free climates, attracting a variety of pollinators but especially bees. Rio Grande™ Citrus Crush Purslane, a.k.a. Portulaca, is a low growing, well-branched, vegetatively grown selection of this succulent annual with a slightly more compact habit meaning that it isn't apt to open up in the middle like older varieties thus providing a fuller look throughout the growing season. Its exceptional flower power, larger and intensely colored flowers that remain open longer, and a neater habit make this Purslane an excellent choice for low maintenance sunny containers, whether in hanging baskets, as specimens, or as a spiller in mixed gardens, or utilize it for the front of the garden and landscape as a sunny groundcover. Provide a full sun to partly sunny site in a well drained, average moist, fertile soil and allow the soil to become slightly dry between waterings. Images courtesy of Ball Horticulture, all rights reserved. Item# 13503

New for 2025! This Texas Superstar® selection produces large, two-toned magenta and pink flowers from spring or early summer until frost, to potentially year round in frost free climates, attracting a variety of pollinators but especially bees. Rio Grande™ Frosted Strawberry Purslane, a.k.a. Portulaca, is a low growing, well-branched, vegetatively grown selection of this succulent annual with a slightly more compact habit meaning that it isn't apt to open up in the middle like older varieties thus providing a fuller look throughout the growing season. Its exceptional flower power, larger and intensely colored flowers that remain open longer, and a neater habit make this Purslane an excellent choice for low maintenance sunny containers, whether in hanging baskets, as specimens, or as a spiller in mixed gardens, or utilize it for the front of the garden and landscape as a sunny groundcover. Provide a full sun to partly sunny site in a well drained, average moist, fertile soil and allow the soil to become slightly dry between waterings. Images courtesy of Ball Horticulture, all rights reserved. Item# 13502

New for 2025! This Texas Superstar® selection produces large, deep golden yellow flowers from spring or early summer until frost, to potentially year round in frost free climates, attracting a variety of pollinators but especially bees. Rio Grande™ Yellow Purslane, a.k.a. Portulaca, is a low growing, well-branched, vegetatively grown selection of this succulent annual with a slightly more compact habit meaning that it isn't apt to open up in the middle like older varieties thus providing a fuller look throughout the growing season. Its exceptional flower power, larger and intensely colored flowers that remain open longer, and a neater habit make this Purslane an excellent choice for low maintenance sunny containers, whether in hanging baskets, as specimens, or as a thrilling spiller in mixed gardens, or utilize it for the front of the garden and landscape as a sunny groundcover. Provide a full sun to partly sunny site in a well drained, average moist, fertile soil and allow the soil to become slightly dry between waterings. Images courtesy of Ball Horticulture, all rights reserved. Item# 13501

Large intense red tubular flowers emerge from deep red calyxes in tall spikes throughout the growing season on this vigorous yet compact tropical Salvia hybrid. Roman Red Salvia, a Salvia darcyi x S. coccinea cross, is similar in form and habit to the popular Wish series but in a vibrant new color! Expect an aerial dogfight when your neighbor's hummingbirds show up for a feast. Suitable for use in medium to large containers as well as in gardens and landscapes. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in an average moist well-drained fertile soil. Images courtesy of Ball Horticulture, all rights reserved. Item# 11986

Grown mainly for its large aromatic heart-shaped tropical foliage that produce a strong root beer-like fragrance when crushed along with contrasting narrow creamy white arching 'flowers' in the form of a 'spadix'. The Rootbeer Tree, Piper auritum, is a vigorous, naturally evergreen, shrub-like herbaceous tropical that can be grown as a die-back perennial into zone 8. In the garden and landscape it can spread aggressively and invasively, like some mints, via fleshy white underground rhizomes and can be difficult to eradicate once well established. It is generally easiest to contain when grown as a container plant that is not in contact with soil below it. The Rootbeer Tree is widely used as an herb in Meso-American cultures like Oaxacan. It can be used fresh or dried to flavor soups, eggs, drinks and is an essential ingredient in Mole Verde. Item# 789