Under The Jakfruit Tree

Posted on by April 11, 2021

Turk’s Cap (Malvaviscus arboreus), is a hibiscus relative which can attain a height of 6-7′ and 4-5′ wide in a relatively short period of time. Its bright red fez-like flowers that hang down and never appear to be fully open is an excellent hummingbird and butterfly attractor. It blooms most of the year and best of all requires very little care.

Richard Lyons Nursery currently has this plant in stock.

  • Malvaviscus arboreus var. mexicanus (Turks Cap)
  • Malvaviscus arboreus var. mexicanus (Turks Cap)

Under The Jakfruit Tree

Posted on by April 4, 2021

First of all, Happy Easter to everyone.

This week’s highlighted plant is the Red Passion Flower Vine. One of the few passion vines that can tolerate some shaded conditions. It can meander along the ground until it reaches a vertical surface such as a fence or trellis, or a tree. It also is one of the few vines that if it goes up into a tree, it won’t shade out and kill the tree. It is mainly a winter/spring bloomer with large bright red flowers to attract hummingbirds and butterflies. Our native butterflies mostly use this plant as a nectar source, with the exception of the Gulf Fritillary Butterfly. This butterfly has been known to lay eggs on this vine from time to time.

Richard Lyons Nursery currently has this vine in stock.

  • Passiflora coccinea (Scarlet Passion Vine)
  • Passiflora coccinea (Scarlet Passion Vine)
  • Passiflora coccinea (Scarlet Passion Vine)

Under The Jakfruit Tree

Posted on by March 26, 2021

When it comes to the New Guinea Trumpet Vine, the world temporarily returns to its senses. This very attractive liana really is native to New Guinea! Known botanically as Tecomanthe dendrophila (and formerly called T. venusta), it is related to the genera Tecoma and Tecomaria from other parts of the world, but produces larger and showier flowers. In fact, its tubular bloom is 3-4 in. long, pink along the sides and creamy yellow at the throat, maturing to a darker magenta-pink. The flowers grow in large, pendant clusters, made more striking by virtue of emerging directly from the dark older wood, rather than from younger stems.

New Guinea Trumpet Vine has proven hardy in southern Florida. Richard Lyons’ Nursery carries this relatively uncommon species in 3-gal. containers.

Under The Jakfruit Tree

Posted on by March 14, 2021

Senna ligustrina (Privet Senna) is a small native tree/shrub rarely exceeding 8 feet tall. It blooms periodically throughout the year with clusters of bright yellow flowers and produces an abundance of viable seed which can be seen germinating underneath. It is also the host plant to several species of Sulphur Butterflies.

Richard Lyons Nursery currently has this plant in stock.

  • Senna ligustrina (Privet Wild Sensitive Plant)

Under The Jakfruit Tree

Posted on by March 7, 2021

Madre de Cacao (Gliricidia sepium), a fast-growing tree of Central America, it was planted by the Aztecs to provide shade for cacao plantations. That application is the source of the common name Madre de Cacao. Over the centuries, it has also come to be used to shade coffee, tea and vanilla plants.

The true species has pink blossoms, while a cultivar ‘Alba’ has white blossoms. They are both currently blooming in S. Florida with masses of pea like flowers.

Richard Lyons Nursery currently has these trees in stock.

  • Gliricidia sepium (Pink Madre de Cacao)
  • Gliricidia sepium ‘Alba’ (Madre de Cacao)
  • Gliricidia sepium (Pink Madre de Cacao)