Author: Steve Turner

Rare & Unusual Tropical Trees & Plants, Flowering, Fruit, Native, Palm, Bamboo, Heliconia, Hummingbird, Butterfly

Lady of the Night Shrub

Lady of the Night is a shrub in the Brunfelsia genus that has large white tubular flowers that give off a spicy vanilla fragrance in the evening, thus the descriptive common name. There are generally three species for sale in S. Florida. Brunfelsia nitida is probably the most common, and most compact of the three.…
Read more


July 17, 2022 0

Crepe Ginger

Costus speciosus is the tallest species of Costus attaining a height of 10-12′. In South Florida this plant goes dormant dying back to the rhizome. In the summer months it has large papery white flowers protruding from a cone like structure. There is also a pink flowering variety that doesn’t get quite as tall. Young…
Read more


July 9, 2022 0

Brazilian Star Calathea

Calathea belongs to the Marantaceae Family, more commonly known as The Prayer Plant Family. At night the leaves point upward like praying hands. Calathea loeseneri, the Star Calathea has one of the most ornate flowers in this group. It is pinkish white and shaped like a star. This group of plants requires a moist shady…
Read more


July 2, 2022 0

Rainbow Cassia Tree

This tree is a hybrid between Cassia fistula (Golden Shower Tree) and Cassia javanica (Apple Blossom Tree).  The flowers are a blend of the two trees, with some of the flowers more yellow than pink, while others are more pink than yellow. This gives a very spectacular look to the tree when it is in full bloom. …
Read more


June 19, 2022 0

Pagoda Flower

Clerodendrum paniculatum, The Pagoda Flower is named for the shape of its flowers. This species was first described in 1767 by none other than Carl Linnaes himself (The Father of modern biological nomenclature). This shrub spreads by means of root suckers to create a nice clump of stems, each producing a scarlet pagoda shaped inflorescence.…
Read more


June 11, 2022 0