Caesalpinia pulcherrima is the national flower of the Caribbean Island of Barbados. This small tree or large shrub can reach a height of 8-12′ and blooms all summer long and into the fall in South Florida. The most common flower color is reddish orange. However, there is a cultivar of solid yellow and one of…
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Most people know this plant by its botanical genus name, Mussaenda. However, there is a common name for this plant which is not used very often and that is Flag Bush. Mussaenda is a genus of shrubs in the Rubiaceae Family (the Coffee Family) with very showy enlarged floral sepals which surround the true flower.…
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Ruellia brittoniana is a perennial plant in South Florida forming a dense clump attaining a height of 3-4′. A lot of gardeners shy away from this plant due to its invasive nature. However, I submit that some invasive plants can be a positive and this is one of those. It is an excellent nectar source…
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Cestrum nocturnum (Night Blooming Jasmine) and Cestrum diurnum (Day Blooming Jasmine) are not actually related to true jasmines but rather they are members of the Solanaceae Family like tomato plants. They are very fragrant like jasmines so I suppose that is the reason for the common name. Night blooming jasmine is a shrub that can…
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Peacock Ginger (Kaempferia pulchra) is a very good ground cover for a moist shaded area. Peacock Ginger produce four-petaled lavender flowers throughout the summer, but their beautifully patterned foliage probably stands out the most. The oval leaves consist of a green background with an overlay of striking bronze or purple markings. It spreads via rhizomes…
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