Vanilla planifolia, a member of the Orchid Family (Orchidaceae) is the primary species of orchid grown commercially to produce the very expensive vanilla extract. This orchid is actually a vine which starts out in the shade and grows up the trunks of trees, eventually flowering, when it gets high enough up in the tree it…
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The Datil Pepper (Capsicum chinense), is a cultivar of a hot pepper developed near St. Augustine, FL. There is some debate as to the origin of this pepper. Some say it was brought to St. Augustine from Cuba around 1880. Others believe it was brought from Europe in the 1700’s. Whichever is correct, the pepper…
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Desert Rose (Adenium obesum) can make for a very interesting container plant. It is highly prized in S. Florida for its large caudex trunk which develops with age. Interestingly, it will only develop a caudex when grown from seed, so it takes several years to mature. When grown from cuttings, the swollen base never develops.…
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It is peek flowering season for one of the more colorful shrubs in the South Florida landscape, with an unusual common name. I am referring to the Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow shrub (Brunfelsia grandiflora). While it starts blooming in late September or early October, and continues into the springtime, mid-November thru December really is at…
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Cabbage Tree or Horseradish Tree? Turns out, both are correct depending on the species of Moringa. Moringa stenopetala (Cabbage Tree) and Moringa oleifera (Horseradish Tree) are the two common species of Moringa. Both have become popular with the health craze, due to the amount of protein, calcium, iron, and vitamins A, B12, and C in…
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