Tropical Plants

A rare or uncommon color form of the common Red Shrimp Plant, the Yellow Queen Shrimp Plant produces a continuous display of upright to arching spikes composed of large showy light yellow to chartreuse colored bracts from which the individual white tubular flowers emerge in spring and summer to year round under warm tropical conditions. It displays the same habit and exceptional flower power of its maroon-red bracted cousin making 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# 1170

Pure white 2" long tubular flowers emerge from between the spikes of golden yellow, long lasting, showy bracts nearly throughout the year where kept from cool temperatures. The Yellow Shrimp Plant, Pachystachys lutea, is an easy to enjoy and popular shade loving naturally evergreen tropical that slowly builds into a shrubby perennial with large dark green foliage. Its an easy and rewarding choice for a shaded porch or patio where it will add a little tropical flair. The flowers attract hummingbirds and other long-tongued pollinators. Provide an average moist to moist, fertile, average to well-drained soil in a shaded site for optimum growth and vigor. This is a true tropical plant that prefers temperatures above about 60^oF and can be overwintered indoors in an area with high indirect sunlight but plants can tolerate some direct sunlight, preferably cool or filtered, during the early or very late part of the day. *Note: In more northerly latitudes and/or cool summer climates plants are generally better able to tolerate full sun. Item# 3042

Long-lived flattened spikes composed of vibrant golden yellow 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 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# 12763

Yellow iris-like 2" flowers with brown markings are borne on tall stems practically all year where protected from frost. As a garden plant in areas where winters are cold, like zone 9, the foliage can freeze back at temperatures below about 28^oF. The upright sword-like medium green foliage grows to 24-30" high. As the 'walking' portion of the name implies, the Yellow Walking Iris produces young plantlets on the spent flowering stems and once they are large and heavy enough the supporting stem will be pulled to the ground where the young plantlets can root into the soil and grow. Makes an easy and low maintenance container plant for the porch or patio. Item# 758

Fragrant 2" blooms were purple yesterday, lavender today, and white tomorrow. A woody shrub-like tropical producing clusters of blooms in summer. Attracts butterflies. Item # 759.

The ovate light green tropical foliage is alternately banded with contrasting dark and light green and has a light green midvein and edging. The Zebra Plant, Goeppertia zebrina previously Calathea zebrinus, adds a delightful tropical look whether it is used as a specimen container plant or as a perennial in shaded gardens and landscapes. This is an easy to grow tropical, naturally evergreen, rhizomatous perennial from southeastern Brazil that prefers an average moist soil rich in organic matter with good drainage as it never wants to remain soggy wet. Prefers high humidity levels which may be supplemented when grown indoors by setting it in a saucer fill with rocks and water. The Zebra Plant has earned the Royal Horticulture Society Award of Garden Merit for its easy going yet durable nature. Item# 12291

A rosette of mid-green leaves with irregular white cross bands. Occasionally produces a succession of white star like blooms from the center of the plant. Use this larger growing Cryptanthus in mixed container gardens for a striking color and texture contrast.Item # 760.

This uniquely colored Cryptanthus produces a rosette of deep burgundy or nearly black leaves with irregular white cross bands. This easy to grow tropical looks great spilling from terra-cotta colored containers, in mixed container gardens, or as an underplanting for larger growing plants. Probably our favorite Earth Star! Item# 761.

Bright orange, 1" wide upward facing daisies are produced from spring to fall atop wispy wiry stems and are held above the deep green, fuzzy foliage attracting a variety of smaller pollinators including bees and butterflies. Zemmenia, Wedelia acapulcensis var. hispida, is a low growing naturally mounding, drought resistant, Texas tough, small native shrub-like perennial that is a mainstay of pollinator gardens from central Texas to the Rio Grande Valley as well as along the southwestern border and into Mexico. It seems to flower best and have the tidiest habit in full sun but can tolerate some shade but it may be at the expense of flowers. Zexmenia generally prefers a well-drained sandy or rocky soil but is adaptable to good garden soils as long as the plants have good to excellent drainage. It also makes a forgiving container plant but again provide sharp drainage. The butterfly in the image is a Western Pygmy Blue. Item# 13085