Author: Steve Turner

Rare & Unusual Tropical Trees & Plants, Flowering, Fruit, Native, Palm, Bamboo, Heliconia, Hummingbird, Butterfly

Under The Jakfruit Tree

This week’s featured plant is a very attractive palm tree. Chambeyronia macrocarpa (Blushing Palm, Flame Thrower Palm, or Red Leaf Palm) as you can see has at least three common names that I know of. It’s endemic to the island of New Caledonia, which is east of Australia and north of New Zealand. It is…
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November 8, 2020 0

Under The Jakfruit Tree

It’s that time of year again when the red firespike is blooming and the ruby throated hummingbird has migrated from the north searching for nectar in its flowers. Some of the hummingbirds are content staying in South Florida for the winter, while others make a quick stop before continuing on to points farther south. At…
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November 1, 2020 0

Under The Jakfruit Tree

All around South Florida there are large trees blooming with no leaves and large showy pink blossoms. As you get closer to these trees, you will notice large thorns on the trunks and large surface roots. The trees that you are viewing are Silk Cotton or Silk Floss Trees (Chorisia speciosa). A member of the…
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October 25, 2020 0

Under The Jakfruit Tree

Just a quick note about two popular Croton varieties. Croton is the common name of a shrub that has hundreds of hybrids and cultivars. It is a member of the Euphorbiaceae Family which is a large family of plants, with all having white latex sap. I am only going to mention Codiaeum variegatum ‘Dreadlocks’ and…
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October 18, 2020 0

Under The Jakfruit Tree

The Spider Lily (Hymenocallis latifolia) is a Florida native in the Amaryllis Family (Amaryllidaceae). It is a true bulb which is drought tolerant as well as salt spray tolerant. It can be grown in full sun or partial shade. It has dark green strap like leaves that are 2-3 feet in length, but it is…
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October 11, 2020 0