Zamia integrifolia (Coontie) is a Florida native cycad occurring in 2/3 of the state including Broward, Miami-Dade, and the Florida Keys. In the last 5-10 years, this cycad has been grown in cultivation in large quantities and commonly sold by nurseries to the homeowner to plant as a host plant to attract the beautiful Atala…
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Cordyline fruticosa is a small flowering plant 4-5′ tall, grown mainly for its various leaf colors. In the ideal growing conditions of filtered light, the leaf colors can be quite spectacular. There are several cultivars of this plant, with perhaps the most popular being ‘Red Sister’. A little less known cultivar, but equally impressive, is…
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Acalypha hispida is a shrub in the Euphorbiaceae Family, 4-6′ tall and 5-8′ wide native to the South Pacific. The flowers are the interesting part of this plant and the reason for its common name, Chenille. They are bright red up to 18″ long and pendulous. The individual flowers are very small, but tightly packed…
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Euphorbia leucocephala has many common names, but Snowflake is probably the most appropriate, so I will stick with that one. This shrub can reach 8-12′ tall and 3-4′ wide. It is recommended that it be pruned back after flowering is complete to prevent it from getting too leggy. Like its relative, the Christmas Poinsettia, Snowflake…
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Dombeya wallichii and Dombeya burgessiae ‘Seminole’ are commonly called Tropical Hydrangea due to their flowers looking very similar to the temperate Hydrangea. However, botanically they are in the Malvaceae family which is the Hibiscus or Mallow Family. So, in fact they are more closely related to Hibiscus than Hydrangea. Dombeya wallichii is more tree-like than…
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