Common name: Botanical name:     Dracena marginata ‘tricolor’ Family name:           Ruscaceae Native to Madagascar, this Dracena is salt tolerant and it is suitable for coastal locations.  The sword-like leaves come in many colors.  The `Tricolor’ variety is pink and cream striped with red margins. It does best in bright light. Llamas, Kirsten A. 2003. Tropical Flowering Plants. Timber Press, Portland. Page 336.

Common name:       Angel’s Trumpet Botanical name:      Brugmansia hybrid Family name:            Solanaceae This hybrid has a double white flower.

Common name:     Red Tower Costus Botanical name:    Costus barbatus Family name:          Costaceae Members of the ginger family offer a vast range of color and size for warm-climate gardens. One of the showiest, Red Tower Costus, originates from Central America. It’s large, 6-12” inflorescence is comprised of a series of lipstick-red bracts arranged in a pinecone shape with small bright yellow flowers peeking out of each scale. A single inflorescence will persist for a few months and will also last for many weeks as a cut flower. When given a spot in filtered shade with rich soil and good moisture, a small plant will become a show-stopping 8’ tall specimen in less than a year. – Darrin Duling.

Common name: Botanical name:     Aglaonema commutatum hybrid Family name:           Araceae From East Asia this genus has small size, under 2 feet, shade tolerance, and variegation, making these clumping plants ideal for ground cover or under story subjects.  Many hybrids and cultivars have been introduced such as this one. Internet reference

Common name:     Copperleaf Bromeliad Botanical name:    Aechmea blanchetiana Family name:          Bromeliaceae This plant from northeastern Brazil is a member of the bromeliad, or pineapple, family. Many species in this family are called “urn” plants, referring to their distinctive growth habit of overlapping leaves that hold water in their center. This property imparts them the role of humidifiers of the forest! Colorful spikes of flowers that attract hummingbird pollinators emerge from the center. After blooms fade, the mother plant dies and offsets or “pups”

Common name:      Needle Flower Botanical name:     Posoqueria latifolia Family name:           Rubiaceae Posoqueria are tropical, evergreen flowering shrubs from South America.  They have oval to oblong, leathery leaves and produce terminal clusters of drooping, narrow, tubular, white flowers in late summer.  They may be grown outdoors in southern Florida. P. latifolia grows to 20 feet.  The flowers are sweetly perfumed and the fruit is edible. - Darrin Duling. Internet reference

Common name:     Velvet Cassia, Burmese Pink Cassia Botanical name:    Cassia renigera Family name:          Caesalpiniaceae (Leguminosae) Cassia, now renamed Senna, is a very large genus with about 500 species, the better known members of which are fine flowering trees. The evergreen foliage has a nice open, lacy look.  They do well throughout Florida.  Internet reference

Glory Bush is located on the north path across from the Live Oak. Native to Brazil, this Tibouchina can quickly grow to 20 feet but can be trained to a small tree form.  The flowers may appear year round and each five-petaled blossom is royal purple in color, contrasting with golden stamens. Riffle, Robert L. 1999. The Tropical Look. Timber Press, Portland. Page 343.  Internet reference

Common name:     Wax Plant Botanical name:     Hoya archboldiana `Y.M. Excellent’ Family name:           Asclepiodaceae Hoya are tender evergreen, climbing plants whose flowers have a wax-like texture. The flowers are borne on the stumps of the previous year’s flower stalk.  Care must be taken not to harm these stems when thinning the shoots. Everett, T.H., Editor. 1973. Encyclopedia of Gardening.Greystone Press, New York. Page 1390

Common name:     Baobab, Upside-down Tree, Dead Rat Tree Botanical name:    Adansonia digitata Family name:          Bombacaceae These colossal trees from southern Africa may live for thousands of years and attain a girth of over 30'. Mature specimens tend to be mostly trunk with only a few small branches at the top, lending them the nickname “Upside Down Tree”. Many Baobab trees develop a hollow trunk as they age and some larger specimens have been used as jails and churches! In south Florida Baobab trees go deciduous in January – March. After their

Along the path is a grouping of bromeliads and begonias leading to the Flame Palm.

Common name:     Tricolor Mahoe Botanical name:     Hibiscus tiliaceus 'Tricolor' Family name:           Malvaceae Hibiscus tiliaceus is a tree native to the shores of the Pacific and Indian oceans.  Today it is cultivated or naturalized throughout the tropical and subtropical regions of the world, particularly in coastal areas.  The leaves are large, heart-shaped, and dense.  The flowers appear year round, last about a day, and change color

Common name:     Spiny Fishtail Palm, Ruffle Palm Botanical name:    Aiphanes aculeata (caryotifolia-old name) Family name:          Arecaceae From South America, this single-trunked palm is covered with black spines. The broad fishtailed leaflets are ruffled.  It produces red fruit. It will not tolerate freezing cold. Internet reference

Common name:     Polka Dot Plant Botanical name:    Hypoestes phyllostachya Family name:          Acanthaceae From Madagascar, this small shrub provides color with spotted leaves. It grows well in subdued light where many flowering plants will not bloom.  It may get leggy and needs pruning.  Propagation is easy by cuttings at any time. Multicolored cultivars are available. Llamas, Kirsten A. 2003. Tropical Flowering Plants. Timber Press, Portland. Page 32. Internet reference

This majestic orchid from China and Australia, Phaius tankervilliae (grandifolius), is commonly known as the “Nun’s Orchid”.  The genus consists of mostly terrestrial species as is this one.  Flowering occurs in winter and spring.  The handsome flowers are white on the back and reddish brown inside.  The plant is dormant at other times.  It likes a little shade under trees. Northen, Rebecca Tyson. 1970. Home Orchid Growing. Von Nostrand Reinhold Company, New York. Page 258.

Common name:    Boltanical name:   Heliconia stricta Family name:          Heliconiaceae This Heliconia tends to be compact with red-orange bracts.  The leaves have a striking red rib down the middle. Internet reference

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Opposite Palm Grass is an island where the following plants are located.

Common name:     Stepladder Plant, Spiral Ginger Botanical name:     Costus malortieanus Family name:           Costaceae From northern South America and Central America comes this beautiful species with fleshy leaves covered with soft hairs. Bracts with yellow flowers with red stripes appear in summer or fall. Formerly in the ginger family (Zingerberaceae); new information has

are produced at its base. Aechmea blanchetiana is grown for its attractive coppery-colored foliage and dramatic 5’ spikes of red and yellow flowers. In our garden it blooms chiefly in autumn. – Darrin Duling. Wilma & Dale Magrew donated this specimen.

Dendrobium farmeri is an outstanding orchid species from Burma and Malaysia. It is mounted on the Velvet Cassia tree.

from yellow to red by day’s end.  While it will grow inland with enough moisture, it does best at the seashore. Ernestos Good Earth donated this specimen. Internet reference

Common name:     Elephant’s Ear Botanical name:    Alocasia plumbea Family name:          Araceae From India to Indonesia, this evergreen plant grows 5-8 feet tall.  The large, rumpled leaves are silvery green above and purplish underneath.  Spathes appear in warm months. Llamas, Kirsten A. 2003. Tropical Flowering Plants.Timber Press, Portland. Page 229.

My favorite spot for taking notes. The mulch has since been replaced by a slate patio and the Pink Cedar in the center of the circular bench has been replaced with the Golden Bouquet Tree shown below - Alan L. Kaitz, M.D. Marian and Wynn Kent donated the circular bench.

Common name: Botanical name:    Pteris wallichiana Family name:         Pteridaceae A fern from China that is ideal for a shady spot.  It is loacted to the right of the Baobab tree. Internet reference

Common name:     Haitian Cohune Palm Botanical name:     Attalea crassispatha Family name:           Arecaceae This palm from Haiti is now endangered with only a couple dozen trees existing in 1990.  The trunk may grow to 60 feet high but is only one foot wide.  Unlike other species in the genus the crown is nearly round. l Riffle, Robert L. and Craft, Paul. 2003. An Encyclopedia of Cultivated Palms. Timber Press, Portland. Page 266. Internet reference

Common name: Botanical name:     Heliconia humilis Family name:          Heliconiaceae This Heliconia species is located in front of Heliconia stricta.  It is low growing and the flowers are tucked in the leaves.

Common name:   Flame Palm, Red Leaf Palm Botanical name:   Chambeyronia macrocarpa Family name:        Arecaceae From New Caledonia Island, C. macrocarpa is noted for the bright red leaves that emerge.  The pinnate leaves are 10-12 feet long, fat and thick. Our former Head Gardner, Patrick Jennings, notes that after fertilization with magnesium sulfate the magnificent red leaf soon emerges. Internet reference

Common name:     Climbing Ylang-Ylang Botanical name:    Artabotrys hexapetalus Family name:          Annonaceae This tropical evergreen climber from India begins to vine at 5-6 feet.  The foliage is shiny and attractive.  The greenish-yellow flowers in summer are small and fragrant.  The plant should be tied to some structure when planted, while flowers and tendrils form. Riffle, Robert L. 1999. The Tropical Look. Timber Press, Portland. Page 55.  Internet reference

These ornamental,   evergreen shrubs may be grown outdoors in Southern Florida.  Propagation is by stem or root cuttings, by suckers, and by air-layering. Everett, T.H., Editor. 1973. Encyclopedia of Gardening. Greystone Press, New York. Page 2441. Internet reference

new leaves emerge they produce elegant long-stalked pendulous white flowers that resemble hibiscus. An oblong, fuzzy brown fruit follows that some people think looks like a rat hanging by its tail! – Darrin Duling S. Oliphant donated this specimen.

Our outstanding variety, H. archboldiana `Y.M. Excellent’, comes from Papua New Guinea and has a white cup, red lobes, and a darker central star. It is located at the base of the Live Oak. Internet reference

Riffle, Robert L. and Craft, Paul. 2003. An Encyclopedia of Cultivated Palms. Timber Press, Portland. Page 456.

Common name:     Namwa Banana, Kluai Namwa Botanical name:    Musa namwa Family name:          Musaceae Also known as “pisang awak”, this group of lady finger bananas produces large sized bunches of sweet delicious fruit that is prized in the Indonesian areas. It is somewhat sensitive to Panama disease (fusarium wilt). It grows 10-14 feet tall. Internet reference

Common name: Botanical name:     Alpinia latilabris Family name:           Zingiberaceae This ginger is native to peninsular Malaysia. It has a pink inflorescence. Alpinias differ from other gingers in that they do not have a fleshy covering over the seeds.  It is best grown as an under-story plant to shelter it from the hot sun.  Llamas, Kirsten A. 2003. Tropical Flowering Plants. Timber Press, Portland. Page 361.

Common name:     Adam’s Apple Botanical name:     Tabernaemontana crassa Family name:           Apocynaceae From Africa, the bark contains a chemical, ibogaine, a psychoactive alkaloid used in tribal rituals. It is being studied as a treatment for drug addiction. Internet reference

Common name:     Columbian coffee Botanical name:     Coffea x Hybrid 'Columbian' Family name:           Rubiaceae Coffea species are evergreen shrubs or thin trees with glossy, tough dark green leaves.  The five-petaled gardenia-like flowers in spring and summer last only a day and are followed by fruit resembling cranberries.  Each fruit has two seeds, the “beans” of commercial coffee. These plants need a rich, moist soil that is slightly acidic.

Common name:     Palm Grass Botanical name:    Curculigo capitulata Family name:          Hypoxidaceae From tropical Asia and Australia this species has palm-like leaves and no stems. The 3-foot long light green leaves are held on 2-foot long petioles.  The arched leaves move with the slightest breeze.  Attractive yellow flowers tend to be at ground level hidden by the leaves. Riffle, Robert L. 1999. The Tropical Look. Timber Press, Portland. Page 136.  Internet reference

Common name:     Swamp Lily Botanical name:    Crinum americanum, C. scillifolium Family name:          Amaryllidaceae A Florida native that likes to grow in wet areas, the Swamp Lily has long strap-like leaves.  Separate from the leaves, flower stalks develop from the bulb and produce white flowers arranged like an umbrella, five or more flower stems coming from a center (umbrel).  The bulbs divide easily to make new plants.  It is located just to the right of the Cluster Queen Palm. Internet reference

Blue Coast Trading Corporation of West Palm Beach, Florida generously donated and installed the slate patio.

placed the Costus genus into the Costaceae family. Riffle, Robert L. 1999. The Tropical Look. Timber Press, Portland. Page 129.

Common name:     Panama-Hat Plant Botanical name:    Carludovica palmate Family name:          Cyclanthaceae A very tropical looking plant from warm sites in Central and South America.  The 3 foot-wide leaves arise from the ground on 6 foot-long petioles and further divide into several segments.  These plants are very sensitive to the cold but can be grown in far southern Florida. Riffle, Robert L. 1999. The Tropical Look. Timber Press, Portland. Page 94.  Internet reference

Common name:     Weeping Variegated Aralia Botanical name:     Polyscias paniculata `variegata’ Family name:          Araliaceae Polyscias belong in the Aralia family, Araliaceae,  and come from New Zealand, Tropical Asia and the Pacific Islands.  They are cultivated mainly for their foliage, deeply divided green or green and white leaves.  The name Polyscias means “many-shaded”, a reference to the luxuriant foliage.

Common name:     Blackberry Lily, Leopard Flower Botanical name:    Belamcanda chinensis Family name:          Iridaceae Native to China and Japan is this delightful summer blooming plant.  The dried seed capsules split to reveal clusters of black seeds that resemble blackberries – hence the common name “Blackberry Lily”. Vivid orange flowers with red and brown spots occur in the summer. You can expect the plant to self-sow or collect the seeds and distribute them in the fall.  Internet reference

Common name:     Marmalade tree Botanical name:    Saraca thaipingensis Family name:          Caesalpiniaceae This small tree, from 4 to 5 m in height, originates in Malaysia. It flowers from January to April on rounded, yellow bouquets directly on old wood. Flowers reach 30 cm in diameter. The Hindus regard Saraca as “l’arbre l’amour”. – Darrin Duling.

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Common name:     White Butterfly Ginger Botanical name:     Hedychium coronarium Family name:           Zingiberaceae This evergreen member of the Ginger family is now cultivated in warm-climate gardens all over the world for its heavily fragrant clusters of pure white flowers. The flowers are used to make leis in Hawaii. The plants arise from a thick, fleshy rhizome that sends out long, slender, leafy stems up to 6’ high. Once established, a small clump will quickly form a huge colony, so care must be taken to plant this ginger where it has plenty of room to spread out. In fact, in some areas of the tropics it is now considered an invasive exotic pest plant and its sale and cultivation is illegal. Our plants bloom in late spring through summer.  In more northerly climates it is grown as a perennial and usually blooms in the autumn. – Darrin Duling.

Common name: Botanical name:     Philodendron sp. Family name:           Araceae Philodendron is a large genus of vining or shrub plants from tropical America with large beautiful leaves.  The leaves of the shrub variety may be immense as in this species.  Their inflorescences are multicolored and large.  Philodendrons impart a real tropical look to the garden.  They are intolerant of cold but may be grown outdoors in south Florida. Everett, T.H., Editor. 1973. Encyclopedia of Gardening. Greystone Press, New York. Page 269.  Internet reference

Common name:     Winin Palm Botanical name:     Veitchia winin Family name:           Arecaceae Winin Palm is a tall, rather large Veitchia native to moist forests on several Vanuatu (New Hebrides) islands. Its long crownshaft supports around ten big, lightly arching leaves with wide, dark green, pendulous leaflets. A highly ornamental, fast growing palm, it is best suited to the tropical garden. Internet reference

Riffle, Robert L. 1999. The Tropical Look. Timber Press, Portland. Page 123. Internet reference

Common name:     Buddha’s Lamp Botanical name:     Mussaenda frondosa `Dona Aurora' Family name:           Rubiaceae Although this beautiful shrub may, at first glance, resemble a white poinsettia, it is actually a member of the coffee family, Rubiaceae. A native of the East Indies, this vigorous evergreen can grow up to 12 feet in height with an equal spread.  It is a star of the garden from May through December, producing clusters of pure white bracts that surround small, bright orange flowers. Out of many species of Mussaenda that we grow, this one has proven to be the hardiest and most reliably evergreen. It will grow in full sun or dappled shade and likes moist soil. If space is limited, this shrub can be cut back hard once a year to maintain a manageable size. – Darrin Duling.

The amazingly complex flower of the Cannonball Tree is just as curious as the fruit; six inches across, with bright carmine red petals surrounding central reproductive parts that look as if they have been folded over sideways. These flowers exude a heavy perfume-like scent. Another anomaly is that the tree is mostly evergreen, but goes briefly deciduous in short, sporadic bursts without warning throughout the year.  The reason the tree is called “Cannonball” is after flowering, large brown fruit balls are formed in the size and shape of cannonballs.  The "fruit" inside the ball is said to have an unpleasant odor. – Darrin Duling.  Internet reference

Common name:     The Glory Bush Botanical name:    Tibouchina urvilleana Family name:          Melastomataceae

Common name:     Pygmy Date Palm Botanical name:    Phoenix roebelinii Family name:          Arecaceae Phoenix roebelenii is native to the tropical forests of Southeast Asia, in particular Thailand and Burma. It is a popular indoor container plant featured in shopping malls and grows slowly to about 8 feet.  It is found along riverbanks and grows best in moist soil.   This palm has sharp needle-like spines arranged near the base of the leaf stem that can easily penetrate the skin.  Keep away from children and walkways! Internet reference

Common name:     Brazilian red Cloak Botanical name:     Megaskepasma erythrochlamys Family name:          Acanthaceae Megaskepasma - from the Greek mega (large) and skepasma (covering), referring to the conspicuous bracts; pronounced me-gas-kee-pas-muh. Erythrochlamys - from the Greek erythro (red) and chlamys (mantle or cloak); pronounced er-ith-roh-KLAM-is. Only one species from Venezuela is in this genus with a terrible botanical name.  To make up for it, this magnificent shrub grows up to 12 feet and has striking leaves and breathtaking 12-inch inflorescences with bright red bracts. Flowering occurs mainly from fall through spring.  Its large glossy leaves wilt easily and are pale green in full sun but thrive in moist shade. Riffle, Robert L. 1999. The Tropical Look. Timber Press, Portland. Page 234. Internet reference

There is an interesting relationship among a butterfly, an ant, and this tree.  The Ciliate Blue (Anthene emolus goberus)  butterfly’s caterpillar is dependent on the Fire Ant (Oecophylla smaragdina) for survival.  The known host for this species is Saraca thaipingensis.  Internet reference

Common name:     Ivory Cane Palm Botanical name:    Pinanga kuhlii Family name:          Arecaceae This cluster palm from Java and Sumatra will not outgrow its planting site.  It grows under taller trees in the rain forest.  P. kuhlii cannot tolerate salt so it will not do well near the beach.  It does tolerate spells of cold and does well in south Florida. Internet reference

Common name:     Cannonball Tree Botanical name:    Couroupita guianensis Family name:          Lecythidaceae A real conversation piece, Cannonball Trees produce large round fruit attached to short stems borne directly from its trunk. A mature tree may grow up to 100’ and have a massive trunk completely obscured by enormous clusters of fruit. A fine specimen exhibiting this character grows at Fairchild Tropical Garden in Miami.

Common name:     Golden Bouquet Tree Botanical name:      Deplanchea tetraphylla Family name:          Bignoniaceae From New Guinea, D. tetraphylla has large foliage and awesome golden flowers.  The leaves are 1-2 feet long, velvety, and tropical looking.  Yellow flowers occur in bunches.  It is cold sensitive and does not tolerate overwatering or excessive dryness. Internet reference

Common name:     Cluster Queen Palm Botanical name:    Syagrus cearensis Family name:          Arecaceae This palm has been cultivated in Florida since 1959 under a wrong name. It’s provisional new species name “cearensis” is Latin for “of Ceara,” a state in Brazil where it is found.  It branches into two (dichotomous) and grows to 30 feet.  It is a nice landscaping palm.