Asystasia gangetica is not a true violet, but rather in the family, Acanthaceae. It is native to India, China, and northern Australia. This plant makes an excellent groundcover in a sunny location in South Florida spreading very quickly. Its abundance of purple flowers throughout the year are a great pollen source for honeybees and it…
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Ruellia brittoniana is a perennial plant in South Florida forming a dense clump attaining a height of 3-4′. A lot of gardeners shy away from this plant due to its invasive nature. However, I submit that some invasive plants can be a positive and this is one of those. It is an excellent nectar source…
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Peacock Ginger (Kaempferia pulchra) is a very good ground cover for a moist shaded area. Peacock Ginger produce four-petaled lavender flowers throughout the summer, but their beautifully patterned foliage probably stands out the most. The oval leaves consist of a green background with an overlay of striking bronze or purple markings. It spreads via rhizomes…
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Hedychium (pronounced Heh-DICK-ee-um) is a genus in the family Zingiberaceae, commonly called the Ginger Family. These gingers are native to India, SE Asia, and Madagascar. The flowers are very fragrant and appear at the terminal ends of 5-7′ canes arising from underground rhizomes. Definitely a very tropical look for a moist filtered light location in…
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There are many species in the Genus Costus. These are commonly referred to as New World Gingers, Spiral Gingers, Crepe Gingers, Button Gingers, and even Step Ladder Gingers. They do give a great tropical look and the flowers do attract butterflies and hummingbirds. Whatever you call them, if you just ask for Costus, most people…
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