Tropical Plants

A mainstay of southern and western Texas and New Mexico butterfly gardens! Bright yellow daisies are produced from late spring into fall and are held against a foil of dark green, deeply lobed, fragrant, narrow foliage with the heaviest flowering occurring in fall. The flowers are highly attractive to a variety of butterflies, bees, and other garden beneficials. Skeleton-Leaf Goldeneye, Viguiera stenoloba and now Sidneya tenuifolia, is a native, naturally evergreen, small shrub with fine-textured, very dark green, deeply lobed, strongly resiny fragrant foliage that is resistant to being browsed by deer and rabbits. It is tough as nails and is highly drought resistant once well-established. Use it as a low maintenance formal or informal hedge, back drop, or groundcover. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in well-drained soils. A caterpillar host plant for the Bordered Patch Butterfly. Item# 13084

2-3" long, light bluish purple, slightly flaring tubular flowers are produced in large hanging clusters designed for hummingbird pollination. Sky King is a reliably free flowering selection on a vigorous growing upright to spreading, naturally evergreen tropical shrub. This miniature cousin of the Angel's Trumpet is easily enjoyed as a container plant where not hardy. Provide good drainage and fertile, average moist soil in partial to filtered sun for the best results. Iochroma, Tubeflower, or Mini Angel's Trumpets flower on new growth so keep them growing and healthy for and endless display. Item# 790

Large purplish-red to near fuchsia colored tubular flowers are borne in dense spikes beginning in spring and continuing until frost. Skyscraper™ Dark Purple Salvia is a mid-size well-branched and exceptionally free flowering Sage perfectly suited for use in medium-sized containers as well as in sunny garden and landscape settings. The Skyscraper series grows to about one half the size of the Wish series Salvias and flowers longer than typical Tropical Salvia, Salvia splendens, selections. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in an average moist well-drained fertile soil. Images courtesy of Ball Horticulture, all rights reserved. Item# 12158

A 2019 Classic City Award winner in the UGA Trials Gardens! Large deep orange tubular flowers emerge from dense spikes composed of bronze and orange tinged calyxes beginning in spring and continuing until frost and are sure to draw in hummingbirds and larger butterflies. Skyscraper™ Orange Salvia is a mid-size well-branched and exceptionally free flowering Sage perfectly suited for use in medium-sized containers as well as in sunny garden and landscape settings. The Skyscraper series grows to about one half the size of the Wish series Salvias and flowers longer than typical Tropical Salvia, Salvia splendens, selections. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in an average moist well-drained fertile soil. Images courtesy of Ball Horticulture, all rights reserved. Item# 12157

Large 2" long rosy-pink tubular flowers emerge from contrasting light bronze and rose tinged calyxes in dense spikes atop the deep green glossy foliage from spring until first frost. Skyscraper™ Pink Salvia is a mid-sized well-branched and exceptionally free flowering Sage perfectly suited for use in medium-sized containers as well as in sunny garden and landscape settings. The Skyscraper series grows to about one half the size of the Wish series Salvias and flowers longer than typical Tropical Salvia, Salvia splendens, selections. It is reported to have some winter hardiness into zone 7B. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in an average moist well-drained fertile soil. Images courtesy of Ball Horticulture, all rights reserved. Item# 12459

Vibrant red, single, tropical Hibiscus flowers bring elegance and poise to the chaos of color brought on by the brilliantly variegated foliage which is randomly splashed in shades of rosy pink, white, and green. The tropical effect created by Snow Queen's foliage and flowers is sure to bring a cool fire to any tropical setting while the red flowers attract Hummingbirds, Sulphur butterflies, and other pollinators. Snow Queen Hibiscus is a vigorous and easy to grow Tropical Hibiscus with an upright to spreading habit and easy enough to train into standards. Caterpillar host: Gray hairstreak. Item# 9392

Sommer Joy Angel's Trumpet produces long-lasting double or more, pink trumpets on a vigorous growing plant throughout the warmer months of the year. This is an exciting 2015 release by noted Brugmansia breeder Fred Sommer. Angel's Trumpets are fast growing tropical shrubs that act-like die-back perennials in the northern parts of their range but readily return from the roots in spring. Sure to attract hummingbird moths. Item# 11290

The large maple-like foliage is broadly edged in bright creamy white and provide a nice backdrop to the orange veined Chinese lantern-like, 2" long flowers. Souvenir de Bonn Variegated Abutilon is a vigorous upright growing Flowering Maple that makes an easy to grow addition to tropical settings or as an indoor plant (this is a type of heirloom Abutilon that was once called a Parlor Maple).  Easily reaches 6-8' high if allowed to.Item# 11318

Clusters of 1" orange tubular blooms are born throughout much of the year where protected from frost and freezes or it acts as a die-back perennial in the northern portions of its range. Shade and drought tolerant, deer resistant, and a favorite of Hummingbirds, how can you go wrong with Spicy Justicia? It flowers in sun or shade, though plants may be healthiest and most floriferous when grown with afternoon or midday shade, in well-drained, average moist, moderately fertile soils. Caterpillar host: White Peacock and Malachite. Item# 654.

The large, palmate, tropical-looking, glossy medium to deep green foliage is heavily overlaid with contrasting white to creamy white variegation including the major veins which are almost solid white. A choice evergreen shrub for shaded sites. Mature plants produce large loose clusters to 18" or more across are composed of 1" to 1-1/2" diameter, ball-shaped white flowers that are produced in fall to winter attracting an amazing number of mainly smaller pollinators and are followed by 1/4" diameter green berries that ripen to black. Spider's Web Fatsia or Japanese Aralia makes an excellent choice for shaded locations and develops into a medium to large, often multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with an initially slow rate of growth that increase to moderate once plants are well-established. Makes a wonderful specimen, informal hedge, or container plant for indoors or out. Provide Fatsia with an average moist, fertile, acidic soil rich in organic matter with average or better drainage. Photos courtesy of TERRA NOVA® Nurseries, Inc., www.terranovanurseries.com, all rights reserved. Item# 12829

The beautifully mottled, splashed, and flecked yellowish, chartreuse, and deeper green variegated succulent ovate foliage adorns the zig-zagging stems of this upright growing succulent and summer may bring a ring-like cluster of 1" long deep red, bird-shaped flowers that attract hummingbirds and give the plant its common name. The Splish Splash or Mottled Red Bird Cactus is an easy to grow highly decorative form of this heirloom and Florida native plant that has an easy and forgiving disposition creating fantastic, architecturally pleasing specimens. A shrub-like native of tropical forests of southern Florida and as far south as Central America, it makes an easy porch or patio plant where it partial shade to bright shade but can also be enjoyed as an easy indoor plant.  Allow the soil to become somewhat dry between waterings although it can tolerant more moisture when in active growth and less during winter. Item# 12608

The large, rounded to heart-shaped, deep green glossy foliage is deeply cut, with most splits nearing the main vein of the leaf, and individual leaves can easily reach 12-24" or more across. The Split-Leaf Philodendron, not a Philodendron but in fact Monstera deliciosa, is a popular and relatively easy medium to large house or patio plant that is actually a vigorous tropical evergreen vine that can potentially attain heights of 70' in its native habitat but is more commonly maintained as a 3-5'H container plant. It can be trained to any untreated, sturdy wooden support where its adventitious roots will firmly attach the stem to its support. Mature plants may produce male and female flowers, a spadix which is typical of Araceae, but is uncommonly produced under typical cultivation. The Monstera is easy and adaptable but will perform best where it receives bright indirect light and it can even tolerate some cool direct sunlight as well as filtered shade. Provide an average moist, fertile, well-drained soil for optimum vigor. Item# 12707

The large, rounded to heart-shaped, deep green glossy foliage is deeply cut, with most splits nearing the main vein of the leaf, and individual leaves can easily reach 12-24" or more across. The Split-Leaf Philodendron, not a Philodendron but in fact Monstera deliciosa, is a popular and relatively easy medium to large house or patio plant that is actually a vigorous tropical evergreen vine that can potentially attain heights of 70' in its native habitat but is more commonly maintained as a 3-5'H container plant. It can be trained to any untreated, sturdy wooden support where its adventitious roots will firmly attach the stem to its support. Mature plants may produce male and female flowers, a spadix which is typical of Araceae, but is uncommonly produced under typical cultivation. The Monstera is easy and adaptable but will perform best where it receives bright indirect light and it can even tolerate some cool direct sunlight as well as filtered shade. Provide an average moist, fertile, well-drained soil for optimum vigor. Item# 12950

Lavender trumpets with white throats may be produced throughout the growing season, or nearly year round in mild winter climates, in spike-like clusters and nicely complement the creamy white to soft buttery yellow and green variegated, rounded foliage. The Ganges Primrose is a naturally evergreen (in frost-free climates), groundcover-like, mounding and spreading, shrub-like perennial. Use as a non-aggressive groundcover in the garden or filler in containers. The flowers attract hummingbirds, butterflies, bees, and other pollinators. Caterpillar host: White Peacock and Malachite. Item# 11049

A profusely flowering double form of this popular tropical vine whose golden yellow double blossoms are borne from late spring to fall. This rambling or scrambling climber is easily trained into a tree form whose large glossy rich green foliage makes a wonderful backdrop for the 3" golden flowers. An excellent choice for a sunny tropical location. Item #9315.

The rounded clusters of flowers open a bright golden yellow and mature through bright pumpkin orange and finally into deep red tones all the while attracting a wide variety of pollinators with their nectar reward from spring until fall. Star Landing Lantana was selected for its low mounding habit, excellent flower power, vigor and reliable zone 7B cold hardiness. Use it as a groundcover in the garden and landscape for traffic stopping color throughout the growing season as well as for low-maintenance container specimens. When planted alone it is reported to produce almost no seed. Provide a full sun to partly shaded site in an average moist, average to well-drained, fertile soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 12886

Clusters of 3-4" long, tubular, waxy buds open to display the long-lasting starry white wonderfully fragrant flowers that are held against a foil of shiny ovate foliage and may be produced throughout the growing season. Stephanotis or Madagascar Jasmine, Stephanotis floribunda, is an evergreen tropical twining vine that makes an easy container plant and is readily trained to small to medium sized trellises although it can climb to 12-15' high where it has a support. This is an old favorite and as Liberty Hyde Bailey states in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture "is one of the best greenhouse climbers" and "There are few plants that have all the good qualities of S. floribunda. It is a splendid grower, has good foliage, is very free flowering, and the flowers last well on the plant or when cut for decorative work." Provide a quality well-drained fertile soil in light shade to full sun. Stephanotis is an RHS Award of Garden Merit plant. Item# 665

Huge round clusters composed of extra large bell-shaped deep violet-blue flowers held on sturdy stems atop the narrow strap-like medium green foliage in late spring to early summer and potentially into fall on well-established clumps. Stevie's Wonder Lily of the Nile or Agapanthus is a vigorous, clump-forming perennial with a tropical look but this cultivar has proven to have excellent hardiness into zone 7. The flowering spikes are typically 2-3' high in areas that experience hardy winter freezes (zone 7-8) but they are reported to reach up to 6' high in zone 9 with reports that the flower clusters can reach near volleyball size! The flowers of Agapanthus attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Provide Stevie's Wonder Lily of the Nile a full to partly sunny site in a well-drained, average moist, fertile soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Makes an easy and low-maintenance container plant where not hardy. May be fully winter deciduous. Item# 12467

6" wide rounded clusters of 1" wide deep blue-purple to dark purple trumpet shaped flowers are produced atop sturdy 3' high stalks in summer that attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Though recent competition has increased when it comes to reliably cold hardy Agapanthus cultivars, Storm Cloud is still considered to be one of the most reliable, naturally winter dormant cultivars but it will benefit from a breathable mulch in any area that experiences freezing temperatures for extended periods. Somewhat drought resistant once well-established but generally prefers an average moist, fertile, well-drained soil in a full to mostly sunny site. Deer and rabbit resistant and moderately salt tolerant. Makes an easy and low maintenance container plant where not hardy. Item# 1144

The String Bean Hoya produces 2-3" wide clusters composed of sweetly fragrant 1/2" wide white waxy star-shaped flowers with a small maroon eye. The long narrow deep green glossy foliage adorns the long trailing stems and give the plant its common due to their resemblance to string beans. Easy to grow and an excellent hanging basket specimen. Item# 459

The String Bean Hoya produces 2-3" wide clusters composed of sweetly fragrant 1/2" wide white waxy star-shaped flowers with a small maroon eye. The long narrow deep green glossy foliage adorns the long trailing stems and give the plant its common due to their resemblance to string beans. Easy to grow and an excellent hanging basket specimen. Item# 12010

4-5" wide round clusters of deep purple to violet trumpet shaped flowers are held above the dark green mounds of strap-like foliage on short sturdy 18" high stems beginning in spring to early summer and continuing into early fall. Sugar Plum™ Lily of the Nile or Agapanthus is a newly introduced vigorous hybrid that is both dwarf and compact and is a rare repeat flowering purple flowered selection. Its compact stature makes this a perfect choice for colorful low-maintenance container specimens as well as adding a tropical feel to the garden and landscape. The flowers attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds and the plants are deer and rabbit resistant. Provide a full sun to part sun site in an average moist, fertile, well-draining soil for optimum vigor and flowering. Images courtesy of CND Nursery, all rights reserved. Item# 12296

Creamy white, 1" long tubular flowers are produced throughout the growing season to year round under warm tropical conditions attracting hummingbirds and the occasional larger butterfly. Sugarbells Cigar Plant is a selection of Cuphea ignea with a compact habit and good resistance to leaf spotting, It is a naturally evergreen, herbaceous tropical whose full bushy yet somewhat compact habit lend it to use for sunny hanging baskets, window boxes, or add this neat little guy to mixed containers where it can mingle among and around the taller plants and will eventually spill over the edges to some extent. For optimum growth and vigor provide a full to mostly sunny site in a fertile, well-drained, average moist soil. Images courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 12889