TROPICAL PLANTS – Rainforest Plants that Look Great in the Garden

Nearly all the photos under
had been photographs of crops
at our nursery.  Many
say that the “backyard will not be achieved till you add companion crops”.  It’s because
they combine nicely and might match among the many bigger trunked out current materials within the
backyard.  This might be principally a photographic tour.  I’ll solely make temporary feedback about every group of crops
and embrace info on tradition the place attainable.  Forms of crops are
introduced in random order with new species added right here and there.  So,
return for extra photographs on one other day.

We now have discovered that they like good
draining soil, common water and fertilizer, and filtered gentle with most
species.  We now have additionally discovered that these with darker colours equivalent to darkish
pink, black, or a mix of those colours do higher over the long term. 
These with sherbet colours are tougher to develop.  Ti’s are one of many
most colourful of the group of tropical rainforest crops.  Important chilly
climate and freezes are laborious on this group of crops. Over the seasons,
colours and availability of those change.  

ALOCASIA – EXOTIC TROPICAL LEAFED PLANTS

Alocasia are a bunch of decorative crops recognized for his or her foliage greater than
their flowers.  Some have very giant leaves with putting colours. 
Native to many areas of the world, these unique crops give a distinct aptitude to
the backyard.  Many have tubers or rhizomes under the bottom.  Some
species should not chilly hardy in any respect whereas others can stay simply in Southern
California.  Some species are dwarf tropical crops whereas others stand up to
about 10 toes.  Most want half day solar though a number of take full solar. 
Additionally, most want a frost free space. 

See Article on Alocasia we usually carry

COLOCASIA – ANOTHER EXOTIC TYPE OF TROPICAL
FOLIAGE

Colocasia is a bunch of crops very comparable and infrequently confused with
Alocasia.  These are recognized for his or her leaves not flowers.  Many have
problem with chilly temperatures however they’re strikingly stunning. 
All are usually smaller, clustering crops.  Additionally they like loads
of water and good drainage.  Leaf colours are sometimes inexperienced to
black with an occasional hybrid with some pink.  Included on this group is the wanted “Black Magic”, as proven
under.  This hybridized species
can have leaves which are nearly black in shade, blue on the underside of the
leaves.  We have discovered that, over time, crops have a tendency to say no in Southern
California gardens.  So, in the event you like them, understand they might have
to get replaced each few years.

PHILODENDRONS – ROSETTE AND CLIMBING VARIETIES
SOME VERY COLORFUL

This can be a group of tropical foliage crops that sometimes tackle two varieties: rosette
(confined) or climbing.  The primary group type a smaller plant that does not
crawl alongside the bottom.  The second group put out growths that crawl the
floor or can develop up palm trunks, fences or constructions.  Most Philodendron
want filtered gentle or shade.  The climbing kind could be
propagated from tip cuttings.  This group of crops is extra recognized
for his or her foliage than for any blossoms they could have.  There
are fairly a number of species that thrive in Southern California. 
Proven under are some hybrid varieties that show pink to purple to
even orange leaves.  The tremendous colourful species are likely to have much less
chilly hardiness.

EXOTIC ZAMIA CYCAD SPECIES
– ENTHUSIAST FAVORITE

Zamia is a
genus of cycads which are native to Mexico, Central America and South America. 
They are usually lush, inexperienced in shade
and unique showing.  Some have
pink, bronze or pink emergent leaves.  Some have plicated (deeply grooved) leaves with a
tough
floor reminding one of many Pringle Potato chip.  Most want
filtered gentle and are of a smaller dimension.  Many are delicate to frost
or
freezes.  All like good draining soil.  When you can develop any of those
rain forest crops, they’re positively an awesome addition to the
backyard. 
As with every genus of cycads, they’re very uncommon and are usually dearer
than different tropical crops.   Proven under
are photographs of some of
these splendidly stunning crops.

All of the “Airplants” are sometimes species of Tillandsia. 
These bromeliads are usually smaller however nonetheless put out very good
blossoms.  They’re tremendous simple to develop and might take solar in lots of
areas or filtered gentle.  They are often hooked up to tree trunks,
posts or fences.  All they want is an occasional spray of water
and a few fertilizer (liquid spray) utilized each few months. 
They’re very easy to develop.  We frequently mount them on a bit of
wooden but in addition carry free-standing clusters as proven right here.  Our
choice is normally fairly good on these crops.

STROBILANTHES DYERIANUS
– THE PERSIAN SHIELD
– DWARF, SUPER PURPLE

Native to increased elevations in Burma, this broadleaf evergreen has a deep
purple shade and by no means will get
over about 24 to 36 inches tall.  It prefers filtered gentle.  Leaves
are a bit iridescent and glossy.  It prefers
water.  Dimension could be saved compact by pinches stem ends so as to add fullness. 
Most develop this plant in filtered gentle the place it is one other means so as to add shade in
shade.  However, proper on the coast, it might probably take solar.  It’s frost
delicate.  We now have these obtainable every so often. 

DURANTA “SAPHIRE SHOWERS” PLANT

This “plant” can change into extra like a tree with an upright development behavior
attending to twenty toes.  However, by pruning,
you may preserve briefly and compact.  It has hanging clusters of
purple and white flowers nearly an inch is dimension.  Berries are orange in shade and you will get each flowers and berries on the
similar time.  Blossoming time is
summer season.  It prefers solar and is chilly hardy into the mid-twenties F. or
decrease.  Proven here’s a uncommon variegated type
of this species.

CLIVIA, THE NATAL OR BUSH LILY

These evergreen crops are small in stature and native to South Africa. 
There are a number of species.  A giant distinction
among the many species is the time of flowering.  In California, most crops
flower within the early spring.  Flower colours vary
from yellow to orange and pink.  The truth is, they’re one of many first issues
to blossom within the spirng.  Hybrids do exist.  Crops have
strap
like, thick leaves and total peak is normally beneath
two toes tall.  They like filtered gentle and do not do nicely in full solar.  In a colony, these
crops put out an awesome show of shade that lasts for a couple of month. 
They’re chilly laborious into the decrease 20’s F.  The final photograph reveals the
yellow kind, fairly laborious to seek out in nurseries

DRACAENA DRACO, THE
DRAGON TREE

Dracaena are a kind of plant that’s widespread as a
houseplant.  Nevertheless, there may be one species that makes an impressive tree: 
Dracaena draco.  It turns into a blue grey tree that branches and will get to about
20 to 25 toes when completely mature.  Individuals do underestimate how
giant this tree can get – nicely above the home in a number of a long time.  The foliage and the form of the leaves
are its hallmark.   Leaves are blue and the tree’s limbs are
abundantly forked.  Every now and then we feature good Dragon Timber in
25g or 24 inch field sizes.   The trunks are very stunning.  They
do not require a whole lot of water and luxuriate in warmth.  They will match right into a tropical
backyard or a succulent backyard and actually have a look at house.

ANTHURIUM:  SOME FOR FLOWERS,
SOME FOR THE FOLIAGE

As a bunch, Anthurium  is a various group of crops
recognized for both their blossoms or foliage.  The most typical kind are the
‘boy flowers” that are generally seen in blossom at common objective nurseries. 
Much more fascinating are among the crops extra recognized for his or her foliage. 
There are terrestrial bush types of Anthurium in addition to epiphytic
crops that natively stay excessive within the cover and have hanging aerial roots. 
Many individuals will embrace these crops within the common group referred to as “Aroids”. 
There are numerous species which make nice companion crops with their uncommon
tropical leaves. Beneath you will see among the classical flowering Anthurium, recognized extra for his or her flowers than foliage. 
However, skilled collectors and gardeners get much more enthusiastic about
the foliage kind of Anthurium.

HELICONIA: 
BANANA-LIKE PLANTS WITH GORGEOUS BLOSSOMS

Heliconia are a bunch of tropical crops recognized principally for his or her
blossoms.  Many have heard of the “lobster claw” flower. 
This can be a reference to the Heliconia blossom.  The foliage is
much like a banana plant.  Blossoms could be upright or pendulant. 
Heliconia could be dwarf crops or get fairly tall, as much as 15 toes or so. 
They sucker and every stem will ultimately blossom if circumstances are proper. 
They gentle warmth.  Some species will survive a freeze.  It’s past
the aim of this text to indicate an array of Heliconia blossoms. 
Somewhat, suffice it to say that I’ve researched as to which species will
blossom for fans right here in Southern California.  Many, or actually,
a lot of the species won’t thrive nor blossom in Southern CA. 
Thus, search steerage on which species to develop.  These species
under are a few of people who we sometimes have on the market.  Availability does change over time.  I will present under some examples of crops which we provide
on the market.  This contains Heliconia subulatum, latispatha, lingulata,
scheidiana, rostrata and some others. 

LIGULARIA:  SMALLER GREEN LILY-LIKE PLANTS
WITH BLOSSOMS

Ligularia are a bunch of Previous World Crops which have
leafy, sometimes “roundish” leaves and typical inhabit bogs and moist areas,
principally in Europe.  The leaves could also be spherical, coronary heart formed, have serrated
edges and could be variegated.  Every now and then we get varied varieties for
fans.  All of them like damp circumstances and might tolerate coastal solar or
good filtered gentle.  An uncommon attribute is that, if they’re
topic to dry soil, the crops will change into limp and truly lay down on the
floor.  However, if they’re promptly watered they are going to be erect within the
morning as if nothing had occurred.  Most species produce daisy -like
flowers – yellow are proven right here.  We frequently have a number of species in inventory. 
Observe that the leaves are similar to a
Lily.  Snails do like Ligularia and can eat holes within the
leaves.

TROPICAL TREES:  MANY TO
CHOOSE FROM, SOME EXOTIC FLOWERS

From time to time we get in some
flowering tropical timber.  We choose varieties and species which have
spectacular blossoms.  This contains such varieties as Spathodea,
Schizilobium, Brachychiton, Tabebuia,
Chorisia, Brugmansia,, and others.  Beneath is a Spathodea which supplies
beautiful orange flowers and is straightforward to develop in Southern California. Additionally proven
is the flower of a uncommon yellow type of this species.  Once in a while
we get within the Fern Tree, Schizilobium.  Do not forget that
many of those timber need solar and get sometimes twenty toes tall or
extra.  So, they will want some room to develop.

ENSETE
AND

BANANAS
– ORNAMENTAL AND EDIBLE, FRUITING TYPES

Most individuals know of the “Crimson Banana”.  That is really
not a Banana however slightly a plant referred to as Ensete. 
It doesn’t produce edible fruit.  The primary two photographs reveals the Crimson Banana.  The third photograph is
the one other non-fruiting, yellow suckering type of Ensete.  Following
these two are
photographs of the fruiting Banana we feature – the Cavendish Banana,
Musa orinococo, velutina, goldfinger and others.  Extra
lately we have been carrying 4 to 6 sorts of uncommon edible Bananas
which could be grown in Southern CA.     
 

PANDANUS
SPECIES, THE SCREW PINE:

There are numerous sorts of this uncommon plant.  It will get its
frequent title from
the truth that rising leaves swirl across the trunk in an ascending and
rotating vogue,
giving it a “screw” look.  Trunks are usually shiny and interesting. 
Some species survive in Southern California and might stand up to 20 toes or extra. 
Many have giant arial roots on the base making them a kind of “stilt plant”. 
There are two species we explicit suggest, Pandanus utilus and
furcatas.   One other good species is Pandanus odoritissima. 
Bear in mind these are tough to seek out.  We try to supply at
least one species frequently on the nursery.  Most varieties need
full solar.  However, there are
many species which do not survive right here. 

KALANCHOE
AND CALENDIVA – QUICK GARDEN COLOR

These succulent kind crops are tremendous colourful with
blossom colours of all the rainbow.  Colours vary from white by way of yellow,
orange, pink after which to purple.  Crops keep small and like filtered
gentle.  I’m displaying each of those genera collectively as they
are fairly comparable in look.  We attempt to preserve a ample provide of those
available and they don’t seem to be costly to purchase.  

DASYLIRION LONGISSIMUM  – THE MEXICAN GRASS PLANT
AND ANOTHER VARIETY

There are a number of species within the genus Dasylirion. 
The most typical is the Mexican Grass Plant.  It’s a solar loving plant with
lengthy, tubular, spherical, skinny leaves.  It appears very like a inexperienced “pom pom”. 
They may type a brief trunk over a few years and are fairly chilly hardy.  
Though they seem like a cycad, they don’t seem to be.  We now have two species of
Dasylirion obtainable, longissimum and wheeleri (final
two photographs).  The latter has spines on the extra flat leaflets and
extra of a blue shade.  Each species want full solar.
 

TROPICAL APPEARING GERANIUM – COLORFUL, EASY TO GROW

These should not your mother’s geraniums of the previous.  These crops have huge
flowers in lots of colours.  They’re hybrids which have been
developed for flower dimension and shade.  Most are simple to develop, will take
solar and have fairly good chilly tolerance.  They’re additionally fantastic
patio crops or in pots. 

SANSEVIERIA,
THE
MOTHERS-IN-LAW TONGUE PLANT

This group of crops are a suckering
plant with lengthy, blade like leaves coming from the soil.  They’re pretty
chilly hardy, do not take a lot water and like filtered gentle.  They’re
simply adaptable to inside environments and are gradual rising.  There
are varied species on this group.  All are simple to develop.  It isn’t
uncommon to see crops with patterns on the leaves or variegation as proven.

DRACENA
SPECIES – LOTS TO CHOOSE FROM, EASY TO
GROW

This can be a group of crops that has a wide selection of look and are
a very talked-about home plant.  Referred to as the Corn Plant, they’re sometimes
upright growers getting as much as
about eight to 10 toes tall.  The “Fortunate Bamboo” Plant is definitely a type of
Dracena.  The Dragon Tree plant described above can be a kind
of Dracena.  However, the most typical varieties are much like those
under.  They’ve delicate leaves and a skinny vertical stem.  They’re
very talked-about as houseplants and leaf appearances are totally different among the many
varieties and hybrids.  They are often grown within the backyard and normally need
filtered gentle or half day solar.

DWARF SHADE TREE,
YEAR-ROUND RED FLOWER CLUSTERS



Referred to as the Brazilian Candles or “Many Flowers” plant, this
species is a dwarf tree that solely will get as much as about six or eight toes tall. 
THAT to 6 or eight toes.  It provides
clusters of intensely coloured, lipstick coloured pink upright flowers.  It’s
superb for a number of causes:  It blooms for about eight months a 12 months and
grows within the shade!  So, it provides shade in darker,
understory areas.  That is uncommon!  We normally have the
15-20g dimension obtainable nevertheless it’s turning into laborious to interchange those we promote. 
Consequently, this species is extraordinarily laborious to seek out at nurseries.