I know some of you have been waiting since last season ended. The wait is finally over. The jackfruit is back, and we have a beautiful fruit this year. If you aren’t familiar with jackfruit, this is a tropical treasure. It has a unique flavor somewhere between banana and pineapple mixed with other tropical notes…
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Two Florida natives that are categorized as small trees or large shrubs which can be grown in full sun or shaded locations. Marlberry (Ardisia escallonioides), can attain a height of 10-16′ and is found throughout central and southern Florida. It has clusters of white flowers and blooms heaviest in spring and fall, followed by clusters…
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If you have a moist shady area in your yard, and want a nice tropical look, two Philodendrons come to mind. One is the Tree Philodendron (Philodendron selloum) and the other is the Giant Philodendron (Philodendron subincisum). The Tree Philodendron has a vertical trunk like a tree, with a nice pattern created by petiole scars…
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Picramnia pentandra is an endangered native which only occurs in Miami-Dade County in Florida. However, it also occurs in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. It is a small tree, 12-15′ tall and a very narrow crown. The tree is dioecious, meaning there are male and female trees. The flowers of both the male and…
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Two closely related Florida native plants, one a small tree, the other a small shrub. Bourreria succulenta, is a small tree, 15-20′ tall with a narrow weeping crown only occurs in Florida in Lee County, Miami-Dade County, and the Florida Keys. Bourreria cassinifolia, is a small shrub, 5-7′ tall and almost as wide only occurring…
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American Beautyberry (Calicarpa americana) is a Florida native that can grow in shady gardens as well as in full sun. It can attain a height of 6-8 feet in moist well drained soils. A shrub that definitely benefits from mulching. Its tiny pink flowers are produced up and down the branches, giving rise to clusters…
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