Tropical Plants

Huge clusters of 1-1/2" tubular orange-yellow flowers are borne profusely throughout summer and fall on this vigorous shrub-like perennial and attract hummingbirds, bees, and other pollinators. The flowers are sweetly fragrant at night and likely attract hummingbird moths. Orange Zest Cestrum becomes large and shrub like in mild winter climates whereas in the coldest portions of its range, like zone 8B, it will often freeze to the ground and return in spring. A loose breathable mulch will also help to ensure that your Yellow or Orange (aka ' Gold') Cestrum returns each spring. If you have purchased Orange or Yellow Cestrum from us in the past it is the cultivar Orange Zest. Item# 749.

1", sleepy, rose to coral-pink flowers are borne from late spring to fall on this vigorous perennial. Tough, easy, and great for hummingbirds and occasional butterflies. Pam Puryear's Pink Turkscap is a still relatively new introduction from the great Texas plantsman Greg Grant and was named after his friend and the 'Rose Rustler' founder Pam Puryear. This Turk's Cap has won the prestigious Lynn Lowery Award from the Native Plant Society of Texas! Provide a full to mostly sunny site in an average moist, fertile, average to well-drained soil for optimum health and flowering. Item# 1082

Possibly the brightest colored trailing Lantana on the market and both our staff and our pollinators have totally fallen in love with it! The rounded flower clusters open a deep orange-yellow, deepen through orange tones, and mature to deep fuchsia attracting a variety of bees, butterflies, and other garden beneficials throughout the growing season. Passion Fruit Lantana is a trailing selection perfectly suited to hanging basket and container culture whether as specimens or in mixed company and will also make a statement in the garden and landscape as a groundcover or enmasse. These heat and sunloving plants are sure to provide continuous color from spring to frost. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in a fertile, average moist soil for optimum vigor and continuous flowering. Rated a 4.88/5.0 in the 2023 Penn State Flower Trials and was a standout performer in the 2025 Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens Field Trials. Item# 13310

Light lavender to white 1" blooms are borne at the base of the deep green rounded leaves. The Peacock Ginger is very low growing and compact ginger blooming continuously through summer. It can be grown in a shady garden where hardy or it makes an easy, low maintenance container plant for shaded porches and patios. The foliage of the Peacock Ginger goes dormant at the first sign of cool weather and during winter and re-emerges in spring once the ground temperatures have warmed. Multiplies readily once established. Item# 546

The fleshy deep green to reddish green 1/2" diameter, 4-5 angled, branched stems are adorned with small spikey thorns that produces 3-5" wide pale yellow to near white starry flowers that are overlaid with intricate burgundy and dark burgundy variegation reminiscent of a Persian carpet. It can flower any time of year and multiple times per year once fully mature and under good conditions. Like Stapeliads, this plant is pollinated by flies and has a rotten carrion like odor to attract them but you may have to put your nose in the flower to notice it as it does not seem to permeate the air. The Persian Carpet Flower, Edithcolea grandis newly reclassified as Ceropegia sordida, is an evergreen herbaceous succulent from tropical Africa that can build to 4-8"H x 12"W and is typically found growing in partially shaded to occassionally full sun conditions in dry desert-like regions. Its main requirements are soils with excellent drainage and warm temperatures, preferably not below about 60^oF. The Persian Carpet Flower should make an easy summer porch or patio plant or even as a hanging basket where it receives at least some direct sunlight during the day to promote flowering. It can tolerate slightly more moisture when in active growth but should still be allowed to become moderately dry between waterings. Reduce watering in winter, especially if grown under cool conditions. These are well-established young plants that are already branching. Item# 12457

3-4" high Shrimp Plant-like, square-shaped spikes of brilliant red bracts from between which emerge red-orange, curving tubular flowers with recurving petals and are produced mainly in winter into early spring. The Peruvina Wild Petunia or Lobster Claw, Ruellia chartacea, is a shrubby, naturally evergreen, tropical plant with medium-sized, glossy, deep green foliage and grows to 3-6'H x 3-4'W but can be maintained smaller with pruning. This is the only known Ruellia species with such showy bracts and they can provide color for months. Provide bright indirect sunlight, filtered shade, to cool sunlight like early or very late in the day. The Peruvian Wild Petunia will prefer an average moist, well-drained, fertile soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 12926

Clusters of pale pink trumpets with dark pink throats are produced throughout the growing season or year round under warm frost free conditions on this easy to grow twining climber with fine-textured, glossy, deep green foliage. The Pink Bower Vine is a vigorous, naturally evergreen vine that is well suited for covering sunny arbors, fences, and trellises and yet can easily enough be enjoyed as a container plant where not hardy. Provide full to mostly sunny conditions for the best flowering although the Bower Vine will tolerate light shade and still flower moderately well. Item# 11164

Penta-like clusters of tightly packed tubular purplish-pink tubular blooms are borne throughout late winter and spring and periodically throughout the year on the well-established plants. The Fragrant Pink Panama Rose releases its sweet fragrance at night so grow this one where it can be appreciated. A good choice for containers or in the ground where hardy. A naturally rounded and well-behaved shrub. Item# 740.

The pine-cone shaped flower clusters are composed of a multitude of rich pink, 2" long, slightly arching, tubular flowers that are produced throughout the warmer months of the year to potentially year-round under warm tropical conditions. The flowers attract mainly hummingbirds but potentially other pollinators like larger butterflies. The Pink Jacobinia, a selection of Justicia carnea, is a naturally evergreen, upright to spreading, heat-loving, shrubby tropical cloaked in large, medium green tropical looking foliage and growing to about 2-3' high and 1-2' wide by the end of the growing season, but may get larger where protected from freezes and hard frosts. Jacobinias make easy and rewarding container plants as specimens or in mixed company or can be added to garden or landscape for summer color. They are adaptable to sun to light shade but may benefit from midday shade in areas with hot summer climates. Provide a well-drained, average moist, fertile soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Caterpillar host: White Peacock and Malachite. Item# 9854

Adorning purplish-red spikes and emerging from similarly colored calyxes, the mulberry pink tubular flowers are accented by contrasting white lower lips and a fuzzy bright fuchsia hood. Flowering occurs from late spring or early summer to fall. Pink Mulberry Salvia, an uncommon hybrid between S. greggii 'Alba' x S. involucrata, is a shrub-like, herbaceous tender perennial sage that lands somewhere between its parents in looks and growth habit reaching about 3-4' high and 2-3' wide by the end of the summer. Hummingbirds will likely be unable to resist its charming flowers and sweet nectar. Provide a full sun to partly shaded site in a fertile, average moist to moist, well-drained soil for optimum vigor and flowering. In hot summer climates midday or filtered afternoon shade may be beneficial. Item# 13157

To 14" long, rich glossy pink, hose in hose style double to triple or more, richly fragrant, flowers are produced non-stop throughout the growing season on an easy to grow Angel's Trumpet that begins flowering even at a small size making it a choice selection for container culture. The rich perfume like fragrance of Pink Perfektion Angels Trumpet is most noticeable after sunset and lasts into early morning. Definitely worth sticking your nose in! Angel's Trumpets are fast growing tropical shrubs that act-like die-back perennials in the northern parts of their range but readily return from the roots in spring. Sure to attract hummingbird moths. Item# 11061

2" deep purplish-pink double rose-like flowers with yellow stamens are born in summer on this unusual Cactus species. Rose Cactus is probably the least cactus-like Cactus with it's broad rounded semi-succulent foliage on a shrub-like plant. An easy and rewarding plant for indoors or out. Item# 9924.

Large, ball-shaped flower clusters are composed of numerous light blue-violet trumpet-shaped flowers with nicely contrasting darker stripes and are held on sturdy 18-24" high stems beginning in late spring or early summer and continuing into fall on mature plants. Poppin' Star Agapanthus or Lily of the Nile, previously offered under the trade name Buccaneer™, is a small to 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# 13402

This a very easy and strong-growing, perennial vine with beautiful glossy leaves, exotic white and purple flowers, which are followed by large purple, rounded fruit, about the size of tangerines, with a nice flavor. Possum Purple is considered to be a self pollinating Passionfruit but having another cultivar for cross pollination may be beneficial as well. Caterpillar host: Gulf Fritillary, Julia Butterfly, Variegated Fritillary, and Zebra Longwing. Item# 1191

2-3" long, medium pink, slightly flaring tubular flowers are produced in large hanging clusters designed for hummingbird pollination. An unusual color in Iochromas, Pretty in Pink is a prolific flowering selection on a vigorous growing upright to spreading, naturally evergreen tropical shrub. This miniature cousin of the Angel's Trumpet is easily enjoyed as a container plant where not hardy. Provide good drainage and fertile, average moist soil in partial to filtered sun for the best results. Iochroma, Tubeflower, or Mini Angel's Trumpets flower on new growth so keep them growing and healthy for and endless display. Item# 11064

 8-14" high pyramidal clusters of up to 40 pinkish-red ball-like buds open to yellow butterfly-like blooms, then fade to a deep orange and gold, and finally turning to a deep reddish-orange to red. The Pride of Barbados, Caesalpinia pulcherrima, is a large growing tropical to subtropical shrub to tender shrub-like perennial that makes a fantastic show throughout summer. Give it plenty of room and a well-drained, moderately fertile soil, preferably in full to mostly sunny site. Plant with caution as butterflies and hummingbirds will repeatedly attack the flowers. Sometimes they drop all leaves during shipping, but will grow more with good sun. Caterpillar host: Miami Blue and Mexican Yellow Item# 571

Fully double, bright raspberry pink, 3-4" flowers are borne atop the dark green foliage. A vigorous, free-flowering, and upright growing Hibiscus, Pride of Hankins lends itself to pruning and shaping. Often used as a grafting rootstock but is free flowering, beautiful, and vigorous enough to have a place in the tropical garden in its own right. Caterpillar host: Gray hairstreak. Item# 875.

Widely flaring 2" long light plum colored nectar rich tubular flowers that darken as they age are produced in large clusters from spring to frost or year-round under warm tropical conditions. The Princess Iochroma develops into an upright to spreading exceptionally free-flowering naturally multi-stemmed tropical shrub that is easy to maintain in medium-sized containers or in the garden and landscape where winters are mild. Iochromas are close cousins of the Angel's Trumpets or Brugmansias and the flowers of this hybrid very much resemble their shape only on a much smaller scale. Provide good to average drainage in a fertile soil in a full sun to partly sunny position for optimum health and flowering. Item# 11697

Large, 3" wide deep purplish red trumpet shaped flowers are produced throughout the warmer months of the year to potentially year-round under warm tropical conditions. The Purple Allamanda, we originally thought that this was the dwarf form, is a vigorous growing and very free flowering, naturally evergreen, scandent (or vine-like shrub, rambler, etc.) and can be trained to espelier, trellis, or arbor or periodic pruning will help to keep it semi-shrub-like. Rich green smooth foliage adorns the upright to arching stems on a plant that grows to about 8-12'H and may get larger with age under good conditions. Provide the Purple Alllamanda with a full to partly sunny site in an average moist but never soggy wet, well-drained, fertile soil for optimum vigor and continuous flowering. Where not hardy it can be easily overwintered in a warm sunny window as a container plant. It should make an excellent container specimen that is sure to add a little tropical flair to any sunny setting. Item# 12976

A purple form of the Blue Butterfly Bush, producing large clusters of violet and purple butterfly-shaped flowers beginning in spring and early summer and continuing into fall under good conditions. For years the only cultivar of Blue Butterfly Bush available was 'Ugandense' the common Blue Butterfly Bush, Rotheca myricoides (syn. Clerodendrum myricoides 'Ugandense'), a.k.a. Oxford Blue and Cambridge Blue, this darker purple to violet flowered cultivar was shared with us by plantsman Heidi Sheesley of Treesearch Farms, Inc., Houston, Texas. The specialized butterfly-shaped flowers are pollinated by Bumblebees and Carpenter Bees. The Purple Butterfly Bush can be enjoyed as a colorful container plant or in the garden and landscape where hardy. Item# 11765

Deep blue to purple tubular, 1" long flowers emerge from the center of the purple, rounded, chinese hat-shaped calyces typically throughout summer and in to fall. The Purple Chinese Hat has a naturally upright to vase shaped habit. We have seen it return from the roots after experiencing 24F if the base of the plant is mulched with a breathable but insulative organic mulch. Easily grown as a medium sized container plant where not hardy. Item #574