Tropical Plants

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. 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

This very rare red flowered form of Chinese Hat produces red tubular blooms that emerge from the Chinese hat-like red calyxes are produced from late summer to autumn along the arching stems of this unusual shrub. An excellent late summer and fall flowering shrub-like to die-back perennial for a sunny location. Easy and begins flowering just in time for the Hummingbird migration southward. Provide a deep winter mulch in the northern portions of its range. 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

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. Item# 610.

Clusters of deep red, 1 1/2", tubular blooms are borne throughout most of the year on this beautiful tropical spreading to mounding perennial with beautiful glossy rich green foliage. An excellent choice for hanging baskets, spilling from containers, or in the garden where hardy. Provide a moist but well-draining soil for the best results. A hummingbird magnet! Item# 1201.

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. 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

Thin flat scalloped stems turn deep red to near purple-red when the plants are grown where they receive high light and produce long-lasting decorative white berries along the leaf edges that follow the small inconspicuous flowers. The Red Mistletoe Cactus or Red Rhipsalis, Pseudorhipsalis ramulosa, is an easy to grow vigorous tropical cactus whose weeping stems can create an amazing specimen hanging basket plant. A component of tropical forests with an epiphytic-like growth habit, it naturally receives filtered sunlight and will have the most intense color where it receives high indirect light to cool sunlight, like early morning or very late evening or filtered sunlight. Provide a well-drained soil and average moisture for optimum growth and vigor. Item# 11825

The extra large flowers of this old favorite are created by deep fuchsia inner petals surrounded by crimson outer petals. The long lasting flowers open at night and often last through the day. An easily grown cactus-like plant with 1.5" wide, flat, scalloped branches to 8'. Item # 784.

The extra large flowers of this old favorite are created by deep fuchsia inner petals surrounded by crimson outer petals. The long lasting flowers open at night and often last through the day. An easily grown cactus-like plant with 1.5" wide, flat, scalloped branches to 8'. Item # 11022.

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

The Red Shrimp Plant produces a continuous display of upright to arching spikes composed of large showy maroon bracts from which the individual maroonish-red and white tubular flowers emerge in spring and summer 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 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. Item# 620

Long-lived flattened spikes composed of vibrant red bracts emerge from the low cupped rosettes of smooth rich green foliage in midspring and under good conditions it may be in flower again for the winter holidays. The nicely contrasting sunny yellow tubular flowers emerge one or two at the time from between the bracts. The neat compact habit, vigor, and long-lasting colorful bracts make this Vrisea hybrid an easy choice for adding that lush tropical look any shaded area of a patio, porch, atrium, or as an indoor plant. A choice plant as a center piece for outdoor sitting areas. Provide high humidity in an area with medium to high indirect light for optimum growth and flowering. Multiplies readily. Item# 11759

Yellow throated, red to coral colored, tubular flowers, often in small but densely packed clusters, are borne on tall, sturdy, 4-6' spikes beginning in spring and often lasting well into fall. Several spikes may emerge from the blue-green rosettes of established plants. The nectar rich flowers of the Red Yucca are adored by hummingbirds and other pollinators. The evergreen, rolled, arching and often twisted foliage of the Red Yucca provides purplish winter tones. A durable and drought tolerant Texas native that is a Plant Select® Award winner. Item# 9200

Rounded clusters of bright fiery orange flowers from which emerge a bright sunny yellow and orange speckled rolled lip creating a tube for feeding butterflies and hummingbirds. The Reed-Stem Epidendrum is truly one of the easiest to grow and flower orchids that can be grown as an informal groundcover under tropical conditions like zone 10. For us, this rewarding orchid flowers most heavily from spring through summer. Provide a well-drained soil, amend with peat moss in dry, very sandy soils. 4-5 plants per pot. Item# 11585

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 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