June 2011 Newsletter©
Tropical Color
It’s June.
If I close my eyes, I can see white sandy beaches.
I can hear the crashing waves. (Actually it’s the very loud ringing in my ears that I’ve always had; I think of it as waves and it helps drown out the voices!)
I can feel the tropical breeze.
I’m surrounded by lush tropical plants exploding with colorful blooms.
Condensation drips from a cold glass with a tiny little umbrella onto my leg… and then I wake up and realize I’ve dozed off, spilled my water in my lap and I’m still in Memphis!
I can’t physically be somewhere tropical all summer and still keep my house, but I can surround myself with tropical color to bring a little bit of “tropical” into my back yard. So this month we’ll showcase a few tropical plants that will give you nearly season long color and make you want to wear silly flowered shirts.
Before we get started…What does ”TROPICAL” mean?
It means - “NOT HARDY HERE” - “WILL NOT SURVIVE THE WINTER IN MEMPHIS” and often means “DOES POORLY IF WINTERED INSIDE”.
That’s why you should not try to winter them, just come see us each spring and buy new ones!
The first addition to your tropical paradise should be…
Hibiscus – (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) - Hibiscus need 6-8 hours or more of sun to flower well. They grow rapidly and flower profusely in containers or when planted in the ground. Feed them monthly for the best flower production. Flowers are typically 4-6” wide and they are available in a wide variety of colors in single or double forms. We have dwarf plants suitable for small containers or large plants for landscape use in both bush form or trained to tree form.
Then add a container or two or three of these…
From Left
Allamanda – (Allamanda cathartica) – Allamanda has stunning yellow flowers. The far left picture is the bush form which produces masses of 2” flowers. The next picture is the vining form which produces much larger 4” flowers. These are really spectacular and both are suited for containers. Left to itself, the larger flowered variety has a weeping appearance so you’ll need more space for it.
Butterfly flower – (Clerodendrum ugandense) – Also known as ‘Blue Glory Bower’, this plant produces spikes of small blue butterfly shaped flowers. It’s a twiner by nature also, but looks great in a large container.
Cape Honeysuckle
– (Tecomaria capensis) –
Clusters of bright orange
tubular flowers that hummingbirds love.
Plumbago – (Plumbago auriculata)
– Masses of pale blue (or
white) flowers all summer long.
Then add a “twiner” to the mailbox, the deck rail or a shepherd’s hook…
Mandevilla – The most popular Mandevilla is the one in the far right picture. It is Mandevilla x amoena “Alice du Pont”. It is a vigorous twiner and has funnel shaped flowers up to 4” across. There are red and white cultivars available also, plus we have several colors of Mandevilla splendens, also known as Dipladenia. The flowers are more profuse and slightly smaller than ‘Alice’ and the plants are not as large so they can be grown as a container plant without support.
And still more to choose from…
From Left
Blue Sky Flower – (Thunbergia grandiflora) – This is a blue flowered cousin of the annual black-eyed Susan vine that we often use in hanging baskets. This one however is much more vigorous and can rapidly cover a fence or trellis.
Princess Flower – (Tibouchina urvilleana) – This is a very attractive container plant. The foliage is dark green and fuzzy which gives it an iridescent appearance and it has panicles of blue-purple flowers.
Mexican Petunia – (Ruellia brittonia) – Officially USDA Zone 8 hardy, Mexican petunia is often root hardy here. It grows to about 3’ tall and has masses of lilac flowers.
African Iris – (Dietes bicolor) – This is a great addition to a large container planting. It has narrow spike like foliage and produces a very pretty pale yellow flower.
Oleander – (Nerium oleander) – Oleanders colors include white, pink, peach and red. Occasionally root hardy here.
From Left
Bougainvillea – Few plants are as spectacular as a Bougainvillea in full bloom. Tiny white flowers are surrounded by colorful bracts of purple, white, red, pink or gold. The second picture is a variegated variety called “Raspberry Ice”.
For hummingbirds, the next three plants are real magnets. Here’s a good example of why it’s difficult to identify a plant from a common name…all three plants are known as ‘hummingbird plant” and “firecracker plant”.
Fire Bush – (Hamelia patens) – Glossy green foliage and upright spikes of orange red flowers.
Firecracker Plant – (Russelia equisetiformis) – Arching stems to 5’ or more covered with small tubular red flowers.
Hummingbird Plant – (Dicliptera suberecta) – Fuzzy blue-green leaves, arching branches topped with tubular orange-red flowers.
The tropical look is not just flowers, its large leaves also…
From Left
Canna – Some plants, like the Canna, give you flowers and cool foliage. Some of the newer variegated leaf varieties are not winter hardy here, but most of the green and red leaf varieties, like those in the second picture, will come back year after year and multiply. Flower colors include red, orange, yellow and pink.
Croton - (Codiaeum) – Related to Poinsettia, this colorful tropical is tough to beat for bright foliage. There are dozens of cultivars with different leaf shapes and variegation color or patterns.
Banana – (Musa) – The vast majority of banana varieties are not hardy here, but a couple, especially Basjoo, are root hardy. Leaves vary immensely in size, color and variegation as evident in the four varieties shown in the 2 right pictures.
More large leaves…
From Left
Alocasia – The upright elephant ear. Grows well in full to part sun but needs lots of water.
Colocasia – Elephant ears are available in lots of colors and sizes now. They also make great marginal plants for the water garden.
Philodendron – (Philodendron selloum) – A great container or garden plant. Grows fast and large, so give it plenty of room.
Then add a few ferns…
From Left
Dicksonia – Tree ferns get quite large with spreads of over 6’. They like dappled shade, good drainage but lots of water.
The two ferns pictured together do great in full to partial sun…
Kimberly Queen has an upright growth.
Macho is larger with a more arching growth.
Then finish it off with a palm in an urn by the pool or on the patio…
Pindo Palm – (Butia capitata) – This feather palm has long arching blue green leaves and is striking in the garden. Needs some room.
Dwarf Date Palm – (Phoenix roebelenii) – For slightly smaller areas, try this one with arching green leaves.
Pony Tail Palm – (Beaucarnea recurvata) – For much smaller areas use the pony tail palm. It’s a great houseplant and has an interesting swollen trunk.
Last month…”What’s this plant? You may never have seen it, but you’ve probably heard about it.”
There was a clue there. I mentioned it earlier in the newsletter… “I failed to take a picture of it in the garden, but there is a related perennial that looks similar – Disporum cantoniense “Green Giant”. The foliage is green and it has small creamy white flowers followed by black fruit but it grows to 4-6’ tall.”
Several people figured it out.
This month’s contest is name the flower on the right.
The contest ends on June 30th. Drop by either store to enter or you can email your entry to
questions@danwestonline.com. One winner, selected from all correct entries, will receive a $25
Dan West Gift Certificate.
Thanks for shopping with us at Dan West.