Tropical Plants

The Roselle that we grow is definitely Hibiscus sabdariffa var. sabdariffa of the race ruber that is known for its large, thick, deep clear wine red, crispy, sweet, cranberry flavored calyxes.A vigorous annual to tender perennial, Roselle Hibiscus prefers a warm, mostly sunny position in a well-draining, humus rich, moderately fertile, sandy-loam and free from competition. All parts of the plant are edible including the roots. Caterpillar host: Gray hairstreak. Item# 10717

A new twist on old favorite! The 5-6" wide bubblegum pink flowers may be single, semi-double, or fully double depending on the whimsy of the plant and are produced in late summer and continuing into fall. Tickled Pink Confederate Rose Hibiscus is a selection of Hibiscus mutabilis that was shared with us by a longtime customer and Hibiscus enthusiast. Expect the growth habit to be similar to the old standards reaching about 8-12' high and wide at maturity. In areas where hard freezes occur, provide a breathable but insulative mulch, such as pine straw or pine needles, around the crown of the plants. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in an average moist, fertile, well-drained soil for optimum vigor and flowering. An Almost Eden exclusive introduction for 2025! Item# 13137

Torpedo is a slightly larger flowering form of Batface Cuphea which produces 1-1/2" long red tubular blooms that end with a purple bat-like face that is accented by the bright red 'ears' on a naturally mounding plant. Flowers from late spring to frost and is adored by hummingbirds. Use Torpedo Batface Cuphea in mixed containers as a spiller or filler, as specimen containers, hanging baskets, or in mass in the garden and landscape to create a bold effect. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in a well-drained, fertile soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 315

The fuzzy dangling crimson flowers of this tough little trailing perennial are born throughout the warmer months of the year or all year long when grown indoors. Generally considered an annual, the Trailing Chenille Plant is actually a cold hardy and durable perennial suitable for full sun or light shade. It makes the perfect hanging basket plant or spiller for container gardens or trailing over walls where its fiery red catkins provide a continuous display of color. Item# 680.

Clusters of 6-8" wide night fragrant white flowers with long thin narrow petals and a wavy circular hymen are borne in summer atop the sturdy 2-3' high stems of this heirloom garden favorite. Tropical Giant Spider Lily is a vigorous clump forming, evergreen (to deciduous where freezes occur) bulbous perennial with large glossy medium green sword-shaped upright to arching foliage that readily multiplies into a dense clump of foliage and flowers. It makes an easy and low maintenance addition to the garden or landscape as well as an easy and forgiving container specimen plant. The lush, large sword-like, rich green upright to arching foliage is attractive even when the plant is not in flower. We ship large established plants growing in their own soil and container. Item# 1239

Glowing red flowers emerge from large clusters of nearly pure white calyces and create a brilliant contrast to the yellow, chartreuse, cream and green variegated new growth that typically matures to creamy white and dark green. A rare find and a beautiful and easy tropical vine. The Variegated Bleeding Heart Vine makes an excellent choice for a well-lit patio or porch with a northern or eastern exposure or anywhere it is shaded throughout the hottest portion of the day. Looks great on 4-6' high or larger trellis but can be kept to a smaller form if desired. Item # 694.

Large creamy yellow, white, and green foliage acts as the backdrop for large hanging clusters of 3" wide, sky blue trumpet shaped flowers that are produced on new growth throughout the summer and into fall. The Variegated Blue Sky Vine is a vigorous twining tropical vine that revels in the warmth of summer and this form appears to be just as vigorous and sun loving as the solid green form. Evergreen in frost free locations, establish in spring once the danger of frost has past as a die-back perennial vine in zones 8-9, or it can easily be maintained as a container plant where not hardy. Item# 1234

The large, palmate, tropical-looking, glossy deep green foliage of this Variegated Fatsia is splashed with nicely contrasting bright creamy white making this a standout in shaded gardens. Large loose clusters to 18" or more across are composed of 1" to 1-1/2" diameter, ball-shaped white flowers that are produced in fall to winter attracting an amazing number of mainly smaller pollinators and are followed by 1/4" diameter green berries that ripen to black. Fatsia or Japanese Aralia makes an excellent choice for shaded locations and develops into a medium to large, often multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with an initially slow rate of growth that increase to moderate once plants are well-established. Makes a wonderful specimen, informal hedge, or container plant for indoors or out. Provide Fatsia with an average moist, fertile, acidic soil rich in organic matter with average or better drainage. Item# 9305

Clusters of 3-4" long, tubular, waxy buds open to display the long-lasting starry white wonderfully fragrant flowers that are held against equally beautiful ovate foliage that is edged and randomly splashed in creamy yellow that matures to white and silver as well as often having a silvery overlay. Flowers on and off throughout the warmer months of the year to year-round in warm tropical conditions. Variagated Stephanotis or Madagascar Jasmine, a selection of Stephanotis floribunda, is an evergreen tropical twining vine that makes an easy container plant and is readily trained to small to medium sized trellises although it can climb to 12-15' high where it has a support. This is an old favorite and as Liberty Hyde Bailey states in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture "is one of the best greenhouse climbers" and "There are few plants that have all the good qualities of S. floribunda. It is a splendid grower, has good foliage, is very free flowering, and the flowers last well on the plant or when cut for decorative work." Provide a quality well-drained fertile soil in light shade to full sun. Stephanotis is an RHS Award of Garden Merit winner. Item# 9394

Strongly fragrant 3" creamy white single flowers are held against the large deep green glossy foliage on this vigorous evergreen shrub with a naturally dense and rounded habit. The Vietnamese Gardenia is much easier to grow than many Gardenias as it is more tolerant of overly moist soils as well as drought once established and has high resistance to Nematodes and other pests. This is one of the most free flowering Gardenias in our collection! Item# 9592

Redwing, Vining Maple, and Mariposa are among its many names, whatever you choose to call it this rather hardy vine with tropical origins creates quite a show throughout the warmer months of the year with a near continuous display of yellow, orchid-like flowers that are quickly followed by bright red, winged, maple-like seeds. Even the new growth is bright red adding to its color show. Grow Redwings as a vine or a sprawling shrub preferably in a sunny location and it should reward you for many years to come. Item # 1232.

Deep red butterfly shaped flowers emerge from the large clusters of starkly contrasting bright white calyxes and are produced throughout the growing season to nearly year-round under warm tropical conditions. The flowers attracting mainly butterflies but potentially hummingbirds other pollinators. The White Bleeding Heart Vine, Clerodendrum thompsonae, is a naturally evergreen, twining, tropical vine cloaked in large, deep green foliage. The White Bleeding Heart Vine may freeze to the ground in the coldest portions of its range but established plants typically return in the spring. An easy and rewarding container or hanging basket specimen where not hardy. Provide a partially shaded to partially sunny site, although plants are adaptable -see *note, in an average moist, fertile, acidic, average to well-drained soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Its ease of care and reliability have earned it the RHS Award of Garden Merit. Item# 723

Clusters of pure-white, butterfly-shaped, fragrant flowers are produced in clusters in summer atop the tropical looking, rich green foliage and sturdy lush stems attracting both butterflies and the hummingbird-like Sphinx Moths. Cut the flowers and put them in a vase and they can perfume an entire room with their sweet heady fragrance. The White Butterfly Ginger, Hedychium coronarium, is a rhizomatous and slowly spreading, naturally evergreen tropical that acts like a die-back perennial in areas where freezes occur, reliably returning in zones 7B to 10. The Hedychium Gingers typically grow and flower best where they receive at least some direct sunlight for 3-4 hours during the day and generally have the best looking foliage where they receive shade during the heat of the day. A planting on the east facing side of a house, tree or other structure where they receive morning sun is often optimum. Provide an average moist to moist, average to well-drained, moderately fertile soil to keep this easy and reliable heirloom growing and flowering. Item# 1065

A rare or at least uncommon color form of the ever popular Blue Pea Vine producing large white blossoms held against medium green to blue green foliage on a small vine with excellent flower power. The White Pea Vine makes the perfect vine for container culture on small trellises, mailboxes, and fences that will flower from spring nearly all the way until frost. By some accounts it is a tender perennial in mild winters but is more generally grown as an annual and it readily returns from seeds saved the previous winter. Provide a full to partial sun location in a moderately fertile soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Caterpillar host: Longtail Skipper. Item# 11952

Pure white flowers in clusters are produced from early summer until fall on this great, semi-woody perennial. Plumbago is a heat, sun, and drought tolerant tropical or tender perennial that makes a great addition to container gardens or it is often found growing as a groundcover, hedge, tree form, and espaliered on fences in mild winter climates. Item# 1172.

Pure-white 1/2" blooms are born in grape-like drooping clusters from spring/summer to frost on this large tropical shrub sometimes grown as a tender perennial or annual. In freeze-free climates the Duranta can be used as a hedge or screen or train them into beautiful small trees. In the mildest portions of zone 8B-9 it will often act as a die-back perennial. The blooms are followed by 1/2" golden berries giving it the name of 'Golden Dewdrop'. Item# 737.

Large 3" white trumpets adorn this vigorous perennial vine in summer and are born in clusters in the leaf axils. The White Sky Vine is vigorous enough to cover a 20' trellis by mid-summer and is considered a root hardy perennial into zone 8. The dark green, velvety foliage provides a nice foil for the pure white, yellow throated flowers. Item#  10347.