American Beautyberry (Calicarpa americana) is a Florida native that can grow in shady gardens as well as in full sun. It can attain a height of 6-8 feet in moist well drained soils. A shrub that definitely benefits from mulching. Its tiny pink flowers are produced up and down the branches, giving rise to clusters…
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Calathea belongs to the Marantaceae Family, more commonly known as The Prayer Plant Family. At night the leaves point upward like praying hands. Calathea loeseneri, the Star Calathea has one of the most ornate flowers in this group. It is pinkish white and shaped like a star. This group of plants requires a moist shady…
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Whitfieldia elongata is a shade tolerant shrub from tropical Africa. In the garden it can attain a height of 4 to 6 feet tall. It can also be grown in a large container indoors and kept smaller than what is seen in the ground. This shrub has dark green glossy foliage which contrast nicely with…
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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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After a brief hiatus, we are back with another installment. This week I am highlighting a group of plants that are commonly called Elephant Ear Plants. These plants belong to the genus Alocasia. They are native to Asia, and they instantly give a shaded area that tropical look due to their very large leaves. Richard…
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