Stigmaphyllon ciliatum

Carefree slender vine with large heads of bright yellow flowers resembling oncidium orchids. Blooms profusely spring to fall. The flowers are reminiscent of those of the Lagerstroemia in form, each petal expanding abruptly from a narrow basal claw. They measure a little over 1in across and are brilliant yellow in color. It thrives in sun or light shade and well drained soil, with moderate watering.

Stigmaphyllon emarginatum, Stigmaphyllon periplocifolium

It has slender, twining stems set every few inches with flat, heart-shaped leaves up to 4in long. The flowers are reminiscent of those of the Lagerstroemia in form, each petal expanding abruptly from a narrow basal claw. They measure a little over 1in across and are brilliant yellow in color. It thrives in sun or light shade and well drained soil, with moderate watering.

Stigmaphyllon sp.

It has slender, twining stems set every few inches with flat, heart-shaped leaves up to 4in long. The flowers are reminiscent of those of the Lagerstroemia in form, each petal expanding abruptly from a narrow basal claw. They measure a little over 1in across and are brilliant yellow in color. It thrives in sun or light shade and well drained soil, with moderate watering.

Species and varieties:

Stigmaphyllon ciliatum

Stigmaphyllon emarginatum

Stoebe plumosa, Seriphium plumosum

Stoebe plumosa provides interesting, long-lasting foliage for the vase. Dried and fresh material is popular in the floral industry. Supremely silvery - white foliage makes Stoebe plumosa a contrast plant for any sunny well-drained garden.

Streblus elongatus

Bushy evergreen tree to 15m, high rounded crown. Young leaves pinkish brown, flowers in hanging green spikes or catkins 3-8" long, singly or 2-4 together in leaf axils. The wood of Streblus elongatus is very hard and tough, thus they are used to make tool handles.

Strelitzia nicolai

It has become very popular for indoor use over the last 10 to 15 years. It is used outdoors in both Florida and California as a landscape plant, where it can reach a height of 20 or more feet. The flowers can reach a size of 10-12 inches, but plants need to be a few years old before they will flower. Don't expect flowers indoors. Nicolai can handle a wide variety of soils and can grow in a variety of conditions. One condition that it cannot take is having extremely WET soil so it is best to keep it on the dry side. The "White Bird" isn't a small plant, but it is a very upright plant so it can fit into some tight spaces. Their large banana-shaped leaves add a rich tropical look to almost any interior. Growers usually use multiple plants to get a fuller plant.

Strelitzia reginae

Strelitzia reginae is a bold structural plant, which forms large evergreen clumps of stiff leaves growing up from the base. The grey-green banana-like leaves grow about 1,5 m in height and the flowers stand above the foliage at the tips of long stalks. Mature plants are very floriferous with flowers in autumn, winter and spring. The structure and pollination of the flowers are rather interesting. The hard, beak-like sheath from which the flower emerges, is called the spathe. This is placed at right angles to the stem, which gives it the appearance of a bird's head. The flowers, which emerge one at a time from the spathe, consist of 3 brilliant orange sepals and 3 bright blue petals. Two of the blue petals are joined together to form an arrow-like nectary. When the birds sit to have a drink of nectar, the petals open to cover their feet in pollen. It is an easy plant to grow in the garden. Plants do well in full sun to semi-shade, love a rich loamy soil and plenty of water throughout the year. They respond well to regular feeding with a slow release fertilizer and compost. They are however very tolerant plants and will thrive in most soils and can survive with very little water once established. The plants are also wind resistant and grow well in coastal gardens. Strelitzias are sensitive to cold and would need a sheltered position in areas with frost as the flowers and leaves are often damaged by frost. In very cold climates it is better to grow them in pots that could be moved indoors when freezing temperatures are expected. This must be one of the most well-known plants in the world. The fascinating blooms are sold as cut flowers by the million. :Read more about this plant.

Streptocarpella sp.

Streptocarpella are a sub-genus of streptocarpus. They are easy to grow, produce an abundance of blue flowers on wiry stems that seem to float airily over the foliage. Pinching helps to keep the plant attractive. Hummingbirds love them! Related to African violet and enjoys similar conditions. Small, tender basket plant, quickly grows to eight inches tall with a spread of 12 inches across. It branches freely and produces soft, velvety green leaves that are about two inches long. From nodes along the stem the plant produces an array of slender, almost wiry, four inch long scapes which terminate in three to five flowers which gracefully float above the foliage. The flowers are an inch long with a narrow tube which splays out at the end into a slanted, pansy-like face with five lobes. should be grown in a well drained, organic potting mix in either a hanging basket, window box or decorative container. While not a heavy feeder, it should be fertilized periodically to keep it growing and flowering. It is best situated in a bright location where it gets good light but not direct sun. Like all gesneriads it should have uniformly moist conditions. This plant not only will perform well on the patio or porch during the summer months, it will continue to bloom all winter long as a houseplant. In the winter give it an east or south window to assure it gets enough light to continue blooming. It is easy to propagate by terminal cuttings.

Streptocarpus sp.

Streptocarpus have shallow root systems and are best grown in wide shallow pots using a well-drained soil-less compost.

Keep in good light but not exposed to hot sun which can cause leaf scorch. An east or west-facing windowsill is best in summer; in winter move to a south-facing position.

To increase humidity in drier surroundings stand the pots on saucers of pebbles kept moist, but do not allow the water to reach the base of the pot.

Overwatering and/or too dense a soil mix. This is really the only way one can kill most modern streptocarpus hybrids. Streps almost always will recover from lack of water, even when almost totally limp, but can be killed by continual overwatering. For this same reason, a lighter soil mix is always preferred over a heavy one.

Streptosolen jamesonii

A spectacular bloomer, it is a rambling perennial vine that without support will grow 4-6 feet tall and wide. It is great for containers, hanging baskets, or as a ground cover in Southern landscapes. Oval-shaped evergreen leaves with a wrinkled appearance clothe the sprawling branches. A bountiful of orange, bell-shaped flowers bloom at the terminal ends of the branches in the spring and summer. Best in sun or part shade with regular watering. The shrub is evergreen and striking in any position, especially spilling over walls and lining garden stairs. It is somewhat frost tender though, and needs a protected position, or cut back before cold weather.