Leucophyllum frutescens is a woody shrub native to the Chihuahuan Desert. It may be an arid growing shrub native to Texas, but it grows very well in South Florida. It thrives in well drained alkaline soils common to South Florida and can tolerate our humid rainy season as well as our drier winters. It flowers…
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Hamelia cuprea is a close relative to our native firebush (Hamelia patens). Bahama Firebush, is native to Jamaica, Cuba, Haiti, and the Cayman Islands. However, despite its common name, is not native to the Bahamas. Its leaves are larger and glossier than our native firebush, and its flowers are bell shaped and much showier than…
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The Black Swallowtail Butterfly (Papilio polyxenes) may be the least observed butterfly in South Florida. One very easy way to attract it though, is to grow parsley and dill in the winter months in your herb garden or in pots on your patio. In the spring when the plants are flowering and going to seed…
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Justicia spicigera is a shrub native to Mexico and throughout Central America and not related to Honeysuckle (Lonicera) at all. This shrub is about 3-4′ tall and equally as wide with beautiful clusters of tubular bright orange flowers. It can be grown in partial shade to full sun. A very good nectar source for butterflies…
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Clerodendrum incisum is not a well-known member of the Clerodendrum genus. A small shrub, 3-5′ tall and 4-5′ wide. Its common name is very well named as the flower buds prior to opening resemble musical notes. The flowers themselves are white with red stamens and very attractive in their own right. This shrub can be…
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