The red shrimp plant (Justicia brandegeana) is native to Mexico but it has naturalized in areas of South Florida. It grows to a height of 1-3 feet with spindly stems which gives it a sprawling mounding appearance. It also suckers along the stems spreading as it grows. This is an ideal plant for a shady…
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Muhly Grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris) is native to most of Florida’s coastal counties. It has become a popular landscape grass and is widely cultivated. It forms clumps 2-3 feet tall and up to 3 feet wide. It also seeds itself fairly easily forming additional plants. The pink color of its flower spikes blowing in the breeze…
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One of the most striking of winter-flowering trees found in southern Florida is the African Tulip Tree (Spathodea campanulata). This fast grower is native to tropical areas of western and central Africa, where it can reach about 80 ft. in height. In South Florida it tends to be a little smaller, but still a very…
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Pua Keni Keni (Fagraea berteroana) is native to the Samoan Islands, New Caledonia, and eastern Polynesia. It was introduced to the Hawaiian Islands in the 1930’s. Pua Keni Keni literally means ‘ten cent flower’ in Hawaiian, as the flowers were sold for 10 cents in the 1930’s to make leis. This tree is relatively small…
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Early fall is the time of year for the bright orange pendant raceme of blooms that contrast against the Poinciana-like feathery leaves and blue sky of Colville’s Glory Tree (Colvillea racemosa). It truly is in all its glory right now. The tree was named for Sir Charles Colville, a British governor of Mauritius from 1828-1834.…
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