Tropical Plants

Pure white trumpets are born freely from late spring or early summer until first frost to year round under warm tropical conditions atop sturdy stems. Mayan™ White Ruellia or Mexican Petunia is a relatively new seed and pollen sterile selection that can spend more energy on flowering instead of adding unwanted seedlings to the garden. In many regards it is similar to but outperforms Purple Showers in overall flower power and disease resistance. It is also a tetraploid so the funnel-shaped flowers are slightly larger than your typical Mexican Petunias. The Mexican Petunia is a naturally evergreen, rhizomatous or spreading, tropical perennial that is grown as a die-back perennial in zones 8-9. It can be grown as a low maintenance container specimen plant, in mixed container gardens, as well as in the garden and landscape. It can also be used as a tall groundcover in difficult sites. The flowers attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Provide Mexican Petunias with a full sun to part sun site in an average moist to wet, fertile soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 12598

Large clusters of fiery orange-red tubular flowers are produced from summer through fall to yearround in warm tropical climates and attract butterflies and hummingbirds. Clusters of shiny black 3/8" fruit develop on pollinated flowers and are utilized by songbirds. When grown in full to mostly sunny conditions the foliage generally has a reddish tinge. The Firebush, Hamelia patens var. patens, is native to the southern half of Florida and is evergreen under frost free conditions and can develop into a medium to large shrub. *We have grown this species in our zone 8B gardens for over 30 years as a quite reliable 3-4' high die-back perennial. Each winter it freezes back to its crown and then returns in mid to late spring to flower through much of summer and into fall. Provide a full to mostly sunny site, although they are fairly tolerant, for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 10668

Clusters of bright orange 1-2" wide, daisy-like flowers with a yellow 'eye' that matures to orange are produced throughout the growing season to potentially year-round under warm frost free conditions. The Mexican Flame Vine, Senecio confusus, a.k.a Pseudogynoxis chenopodioides, is a naturally evergreen, small to medium-sized, herbaceous, twining tropical vine whose nectar and pollen-laden flowers are favored by butterflies, especially migrating Monarchs, as well as bees and hummingbirds. It is known to be a root hardy perennial in zones 9-10 and even in 8B if provided with a breathable insulative mulch for winter. It can be easily overwintered as a container plant and it is vigorous enough to enjoy as an annual where not hardy. Use this easy and vigorous vine on trellises and fences or allow it to spill from a hanging basket. Provide the Mexican Flame Vine with a full to partly sunny site in an average to well-drained, fertile soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 505

Clear pumpkin orange trumpet shaped blossoms are produced in large clusters atop a compact early flowering heat and sunloving plant. Miami Sunrise Esperanza, a hybrid Tecoma cultivar developed by the Agriculture Research Service, USDA, Miami, FL, has a compact well-branched vigorous habit with exceptional flower power. The flowers of Esperanzas attract hummingbirds, bees, and occassional butterflies. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in a well-drained fertile soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Miami Sunrise is compact enough to be enjoyed as an easy and low maintenance, medium-sized container plant or as a half hardy perennial in zones 8-10. Protect with a winter mulch in zones 8 and 9. Item# 9357

The 1/2" wide, deep purple flowers with starkly contrasting white eyes are produced along the wispy elongating flower spikes from spring to frost attracting a variety of pollinators including bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Midnight Moon Improved Porterweed, a hybrid that includes Stachytarpheta cayennensis in its lineage, is a compact growing, well-branched, naturally evergreen tropical growing to about 2-3' high and 1-2' wide. This improved version sports larger, even deeper purple flowers with a similar growth habit to its predecessor. This Porterweed is small and compact enough for container culture as a specimen or in mixed company or utilize it as a summer long pollinator magnet for the garden and landscape. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in an average moist, fertile, average to well-drained soil for optimum vigor and maximum flowering. Item# 12081

Large, ball-shaped flower clusters are composed of numerous deep sapphire blue trumpet-shaped flowers and are held on sturdy 24-32" high stems beginning in late spring or early summer and continuing into fall on mature plants. Midnight Sky Agapanthus or Lily of the Nile is a midsized, vigorous hybrid with excellent repeat flowering ability, deep green strap-like foliage, and good disease resistance. These easy to grow tropicals can be enjoyed as both low-maintenance easy care container plants as well as in the garden and landscape where hardy. The flowers attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Provide a full to partly sunny site in a fertile, well-drained, average moist soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Images courtesy of Concept Plants BV®, all rights reserved. Item# 13403

Talk about a tongue twister, these 1/2" long, ovoid, bright red berries will make anything sour taste exceptionally sweet! Lemons, limes, and a multitude of other sour and hot foods will taste like candy for 30-60 minutes or more after eating just one of the berries. The Miracle Fruit, Synsepalum dulcificum, is a densely branching, naturally evergreen, tropical shrub that normally grows to 3-5' high and 2-3' feet wide as a container plant but in the ground can potentially reach 12-15' high. Our 1-2 year old plants are seed grown and can be expected to bear fruit as young as 3-4 years of age. The plants need an acidic to very acidic, fertile, well-draining soil rich in organic matter and with average moisture for optimum growth and vigor. These naturally understory plants can tolerate full sun to partly shaded conditions. Provide direct sunlight to high indirect sunlight if overwintering plants indoors. The small white flowers are pollinated by bees and other smaller pollinators. Item# 9582

The large minty green elephant-ear shaped foliage is flecked, spotted, streaked and randomly splashed with dark purple to black creating a very cool tropical eye-catching effect. The Mojito Elephant Ear is a rhizomatous tropical perennial in zones 8-10 but is vigorous enough to enjoy as a summer annual in northerly climates. Elephant Ears can be grown in moist to wet fertile soils and can be lightly submerged in water gardens as well as in medium to large containers. Colocasias can be invasive in warm southern climates please plant and dispose of plant parts responsibly. Provide a deep mulch where winters experience hard freezes to promote larger foliage the following season. This variety is  colocasias.  Item# 12177

Huge, deep orange-red tubular flowers open from dark tinged calyxes and 8-12" long spikes in summer and fall, when grown as a perennial, to potentially year round under warm tropical conditions attracting hummingbirds for miles! Mole Poblano Mexican Chocolate Scarlet Sage, a selection of Salvia gesneriflora, is more compact and flowers much longer than its parent growing to about 6-7' high and wide. This giant growing Salvia, the species is reported to grow over 20' high, is a shade tolerant, herbaceous to shrub-like tender perennial Salvia that is adorned with fragrant, large heart-shaped, fuzzy, quilted foliage and is anecdotally root hardy into zone 8A. Its only real drawback is that it should be grown in a sheltered area protected from strong winds and heavy rains as the stems are subject to breakage. It can be pruned to help keep the plant shorter, stronger, and fuller. Provide Mole Poblano Salvia with a moist to average moist, well-drained, fertile soil for optimum vigor and continuous flowering. Item# 12583

Clusters of widely flaring orange flowers are produced throughout the growing season and are held above the glossy dark green foliage on a compact well-branched plant. Mona Wallhead Crossandra or Firecracker Flower is a naturally evergreen, compact growing, herbaceous tropical plant with spring to fall flower power and revels in the heat and humidity of summer. Crossandras can be used to good effect in mixed containers or as specimen plants or add them to shaded gardens and landscapes. They can even be grown as houseplants but do enjoy some humidity. Provide a moist to average moist, fertile soil with average or better drainage for optimum vigor and maximum flower power. These are easy and rewarding plants that are well-suited to use on shaded porches or patios and are small enough to be used as outdoor table centerpieces. The flowers of Crossandras attract butterflies. Item# 12478

Clusters of deep red to red-orange flowers are each centered by contrasting orange to gold coronas but the most interesting thing about this cultivar is that is cloaked in beautifully variegated cream, pink, and green narrow foliage. Monarch Promise Butterflyweed, a selection of Asclepias curassavica, is an upright growing to vase-shaped, naturally evergreen, herbaceous tropical that flowers from spring to fall. It is sure to make for a colorful addition to containers as well as in the garden and landscape. In areas where freezes occur, like zone 8B, Butterfly Milkweed plants may freeze to the ground and generally return from the roots in spring but we cannot vouch for this specific cultivar's reliability as a die-back perennial. Caterpillar host: Queen and Monarch. Item# 12088

Large soft salmon pink trumpets to 10" long and flaring to 5-6" wide with recurving petals are born in loose clusters from late spring to fall on this popular large tropical shrub. Angel's Trumpets are excellent container or garden plants that are root hardy perennials in the cooler portions of their range. Easily overwintered indoors outside of their hardiness range. Item# 9567.

A vigorous, naturally evergreen shrub bearing large clusters of tubular maroon flowers at the ends of arching branches from spring to fall and or nearly year round under warm frost free conditions. Pollinated flowers may be followed by reddish purple berries. The fuzzy bronze-red green foliage adds to its interest. An excellent choice for hummingbirds and larger butterflies. Newell's Red Cestrum can easily be enjoyed as a container plant where not hardy. Item# 526

Amazingly fragrant, 6-8" white flowers open in the evening and last until the early morning hours are born in summer on this interesting epiphytic tropical cactus. May be at their best when grown in hanging baskets where the flat arching stems and hanging flowers are held at eye and nose level. Also known as Queen of the Night and its fragrance explains why! Item# 9669

Amazingly fragrant, 6-8" white flowers open in the evening and last until the early morning hours are born in summer on this interesting epiphytic tropical cactus. May be at their best when grown in hanging baskets where the flat arching stems and hanging flowers are held at eye and nose level. Also known as Queen of the Night and its fragrance explains why! Item# 527

A rare find! Clusters of widely flaring soft red blooms are produced throughout the year and are held above and among the rich green foliage on an upright to spreading herbaceous tropical. Add Nile Queen Crossandra to mixed containers for color on the porch or patio throughout the warm months of the year. Item# 9197

A large yellow flowered Orchid cactus with creamy yellow inner petals and darker yellow to amber outer petals. Item # 3101

A large yellow flowered Orchid cactus with creamy yellow inner petals and darker yellow to amber outer petals. Item # 9473.

Candelabra-like spikes of orange bracts that subtend rich orangey coral colored 2" tubular flowers that are designed for hummingbird pollination are produced throughout much of the year on this tropical beauty. An evergreen shrub in its native habitat it can easily be enjoyed as a container plant for a lightly shaded patio. This is very similar to Aphelandra sinclairiana but a few minor differences set it apart making us think that it may be A. leonardii. If you know this cultivar or species please feel free to contact us. Item# 10952