Plants in Our Garden

At this time, the plants on this page all refer to plants in our own garden and the photos are of those particular specimens. In time, this may evolve to a a broader based list. For more information on plants, be sure to check out the links below.

	Bird of Paradise CP (Strelitzia reginae) CP This showpiece of a plant consists of a cluster of oblong or paddle-shaped leaves about a foot in length. These leaves are waxen and are on stalks about 18 inches long. The distinctive flower rises from a green boat-like bract showing 3 orange sepals and a blue crest or tongue. This flower is about 3 inches higher than the bract in which it rests. The plant is evergreen, hardy to upper 20s. It tolerates full sun to high shade, but likes a rich moist soil. Plenty of moisture, good drainage and regular feeding should make your Bird of Paradise happy. The plant, like its much larger relative, the White Bird of Paradise, is a cousin to the Banana. This plant blends very comfortably with other plants making it realtively easy to work into your landscape plans. Photo taken July 1997.
	Chinese Fan Palm CP A hardy slow-growing palm which will eventually attain a height of 20 - 25 feet. In even warmer weather, these palms typically attain 50 feet. One thing I like about this plant is that it affords a nice shaded & protected area to grow other plants at its base. Though not visible in this photo, I have several bromeliads growing beneath this palm. This plant is hardy to temperatures in the mid 20s F. Its leaves are approximately 5 ft. across, flat and palmate, as opposed to pinnate. The trunk is about 18 inches in diameter with the overall diameter of the plant about 15 - 16 feet. The specimen in this photo is about 4 ft. high. Photo taken July 1997.
	Croton CP Crotons are a colorful staple of the Floridian landscape. They are tolerant of soil conditions and are not fussy about sun versus shade. They offer a wide variety of leaf styles from almost pencil thin to about 8" across. But in all varieties the leaves tend to be extravagantly multi-colored, ranging from yellow, red, green and plum. Left unpruned, these plants grow to about 12 feet high and bush out to a rough diameter of 8 - 9 feet. They are not as cold-hard as one might hope for Central Florida but with any kind of protection and our (typically) mild winters, they usually fare pretty well. Due to their bold colors these plants can be overwhelming if used to excess. The specimen in this photo is about 6-7 ft. high and about 6-7 ft. in diameter. Photo taken July 1997.
	Pigmy Date Palm (Robelini) CP Pigmy Date palms are such a useful plant for this area. They are relatively slow in growing. They range from 3 - 15 feet in height, about 6 - 12 being most common. Though not necessarily so, they are frequently used in groups of 2 - 5. They are cold hard to about 28 F. This palm does well in shade or moderate sunlight as well as full sun. Can also be successful in a large container. Near the base of the leaves there are 3 inch spike-like thorns which can do severe damage. I speak from experience. In Florida it is common to see these palms covered in small electric lights especially at Christmas time. They lend themselves very well to this treament. Particularly effective is to wrap the trunk in one color and the leaves with another. The results look like some great firework sparlker or perhaps an enchanted mushroom. The specimen in this photo is about 6-7 ft. high and is two palms grouped together. Photo taken July 1997.
	Sago Palm CP Sago palms are a particular favorite of mine; they appeal to me because they are among the oldest surviving species on earth. They are not truly palms but rather Cycads. But they are typically grouped with the palms because of their appearance and preferences. They can tolerate temperatures down to the low teens. Sagos have leaves 2 to 3 feet long with many fine little leathery segments. Sagos come in Dwarf and Queen varieties. In our yard we have the Dwarf specimens. The dwarf Sago can grow to 10 or more feet but around here, they tend to be from 1 - 4 feet in height. There are male and female Sagos, which determines the type of flower the plant produces. Sagos are very tolerant of soil conditions as well as sunny or shady spots. The specimen in this photo is about 2 ft. high and about 3 ft. in diameter. If you click to see the full version, notice the Caladiums and Dusty Miller around this plant. This helps give a sense of perspective. There are Salvia plants around the base of this specimen though their red blooms are not evident here. Photo taken July 1997.
	White Bird of Paradise CP The White Bird of Paradise is a tropical delight. It grows fairly high, 25 - 30 feet but also spreads from its base, sometimes covering about 15 feet in area. This plant is a close relative of the banana. Its huge leaves (5-8 ft.) closely resemble the banana and are arranged in fan-like fashion. This plant tolerates full sun to deep shade. It likes a lot of feeding when young. The white bird of paradise tolerates temperatures to about 28-29 degrees F. This is a great accent plant to emphasize a tropical effect. This specimen is about 6' tall. Photo taken July 1997.