A tropical vine not seen very often in the landscape is a member of the Euphorbiaceae or Spurge Family. This family is best known for Poinsettias and succulents of South Africa. However, there is a tropical vine, Dalechampia dioscoreifolia or commonly called, Winged Beauty or sometimes the Costa Rican Butterfly Vine. The flowers are comprised…
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Two native Sennas to consider if you want to attract the Cloudless Sulphur Butterfly (Phoebis sennae) to your garden. The first naturally occurs in 19 Florida counties including Miami-Dade and the Florida Keys. This would be Senna ligustrina or the Privet Senna. It flowers periodically throughout the year and has an upright growth habit up…
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Hedychium coronarium (White Butterfly Ginger) is a fragrant ginger whose flowers resemble the shape of a butterfly. The plant spreads by underground rhizomes forming large clumps over time. Filtered sun to partial shade in the garden is ideal for this ginger. Richard Lyons Nursery currently has this ginger in stock.
An easy bromeliad to grow is Billbergia pyramidalis, or The Flaming Torch Bromeliad. It is native to northern South America and the Caribbean. It can be grown along the ground as a border plant in the garden or attached to trees. It readily clumps in either growing condition. It grows best in partial shade and…
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Nyctanthes arbor-tristis (Indian Night Jasmine), is native to India and is commonly planted around religious shrines and temples. It is a small multi-stemmed tree about 15′ in height with very fragrant flowers in clusters. The flowers are small white pinwheel shaped with orange centers that open at night and start falling in the morning, leaving…
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