Sterculia shillinglawii

Sterculia tragacantha

A medium-sized, deciduous tree with more obviously whorled boughs and clustered leaves.

Sterculia urens

Kullu (Sterculia urens) is a beautiful tree with white skin.Sterculia urens is a fairly common variety bearing, in February and March, small, greenish-yellow flowers, hirsute and sticky. The leaves are hand-shaped and similar to those of the Sterculia foetida. It is found in dry forests in rocky areas. Extraction of gum is done during summer season. It has great medicinal value and is a highly valued gum in the international market. It is also used in confectionaries and chewing gums.

Stereospermum fimbriatum

Steriphoma peruvianum, Morisonia peruviana

Sternbergia clusiana

Sternbergia clusiana grows in dry stony areas, including fields. The greenish-yellow flowers are produced in late autumn. Although having Crocus-shaped flowers, these lovely bulbs are more closely related to the Daffodil. All need a sunny well-drained position against a wall or fence, where they can enjoy a warm dry dormancy in the summer.

Steudnera discolor

Stevia rebaudiana, Eupatorium rebaudianum

Stevia rebaudiana is a herbaceous perennial, which is normally used as a natural herbal sweetener. This is a plant where the native Guarani have used caa-ehe (stevia) for over 1500 years to sweeten otherwise unpalatable medicinal drinks. It is a short day plant, growing up to 1.5Ft in the wild and flowering from January to March in the southern hemisphere. The dried leaves can be ground and used as a sweetener or soaked in water and the liquid used in making preserves. The powdered leaves are also added to herb teas. The leaves are sometimes chewed by those wishing to reduce their sugar intake. The leaves can also be cooked and eaten as a vegetable. Stevia grows naturally on infertile, sandy acid soils with shallow water tables. This is normally in areas like the edge of mashes and grassland communities. The natural climate is semi-humid subtropical. While the herb's native locale may make it appear somewhat exotic, it has proved to be quite adaptable and capable of being cultivated in climate zones as diverse as Florida and southern Canada.

Stictocardia beraviensis, Ipomoea beraviensis

Every one who saw Hawaiian sunsets will recognize the dramatic view in colors of this blossom. The stunning flower has splendid rich tones that are a marvel to see! This tropical vine is definitely a must in any tropical collection since it has so many great features: fast growing, takes from fun sun to deep shade, beautiful tri-color sunset-bright scented flowers, large tropical-looking velvet leaves, blooms sporadically year round, relatively cold hardy, can be grown in container and easily controlled. You can have an outstanding specimen even if you have a limited space!

See Article about this plant.

Stifftia chrysantha

Stifftia chrysantha is an exotic, rare flowering small tree with spectacular flowers, endemic to the vast tropical savanna ecoregion of Brazil called Cerrado.

It grows into a bushy, attractive tree between 8 and 15 ft. tall, and starts flowering within 1.5 - 2.5 years from seed. It is a very rewarding plant that blooms 9 months out of the year, starting in Winter with great intensity during July-September, with each flower staying on the plant for several weeks. Seeds ripen from September through November.

The tree belongs to Aster family and has nothing to do with Powderpuffs which are from Bean (Fabaceae) family. The flower has 30 to 40 green, imbricated scales with short hairs, and actinomorphic corollas are orange below and darker above. After flowering, the inflorescence blows apart, which would scatter seeds. The dried center remaining is very attractive, like a small dried flower, and lasts for many months.

Stifftia can be grown in full sun to partial shade and is relatively cold tolerant, can take short cold spells. Young plants have delicate tender leaves that need protection from hot sun, filtered light required until established.

Stifftia doesn't like wet feet and heavy/soggy soils; requires very well drained, acidic soil. We strongly recommend to use our professional soilless mix. Let soil slightly dry between waterings. Stifftia prefers acidic soils so if your well water is high in calcium, try to water my young plants with rain water (coming from a collection barrel). When making growing media specifically for Stifftia and other acid-loving plants, never add limestone or Dolomite to the mix.

The plant can be grown in full sun to partial shade and is relatively cold tolerant, can take short cold spells. If grown in a pot, try to keep the container shaded because roots don't like to be overheated. The plant needs monthly applications of slow release fertilizer as well as extra iron - use micro-nutrients to keep leaves green and healthy.

In Brazil is is very popular as ornamental, and flowers are commercialized for floral arrangement.