Subtropical plant - Plant Encyclopedia Results

In cooler climates, Bouvardia ternifolia (Scarlet Bourvardia) should be grown in pots and brought indoors before the cold weather arrives. Plant in well-draining, lightly acidic soil and place it in an area that gets a minimum of 4-6 hours of direct sunlight a day. Water regularly while the plant is actively growing and reduce watering in the winter or when the plant is dormant. When growing in a pot, it is best to repot every 2 to 3 years, as the growth rate of this small shrub is quite fast. In USDA Zones 9-11, the mature plant can manage temperatures as low as 30°F for a short time, but it is advised to give it extra protection with mulch or frost blankets if the cold weather will last longer than usual.

Whether you are looking to add some color to an outdoor patio, a terrace, or a balcony, Bouvardia ternifolia

will be an excellent choice. The bright, red, crimson and vinous flowers of this small shrub are extremely fragrant and will attract butterflies and hummingbirds during the day. Keep in mind that it will need regular water, plenty of sunlight and some protection from the frost during the cold season, and you will be able to enjoy its beauty for many years to come.

Actinidia kolomikta is a vine or creeper from the Actinidiaceae family, originating from East Asia. It has decorative foliage, with leaves turning red, pink and white in the fall. The leaves are green and creamy white and can be up to 4 inches long. It is a deciduous plant, which means it loses its leaves in the winter.

Actinidia kolomikta prefers semi-shade and regular water, but can tolerate moderate water. It is a fast growing plant, reaching up to 30 ft. It requires support to grow and climb, however it will not produce fruit without both a male and female plant. It is grown in USDA Zone 4-9.

The fruit of the Actinidia kolomikta is sweet and grape-sized, with a yellow or light orange skin. The green, juicy flesh has a light, sour flavor. It can be eaten fresh or cooked, and is a good source of Vitamin C, Vitamin A, and dietary fibers. The fruit can also be used to make jams and jellies. A mature plant can produce up to 100 fruits per season, depending on the care and conditions.

Actinidia kolomikta is an edible, ornamental plant that is easy to care for and can provide a good harvest of sweet, juicy fruit.

This is a perennial species when grown indoors or in mild-winter areas. It self-seeds and can be grown as an annual in colder areas.

Coriandrum sativum is an annual herb.

The lower leaves of coriander are lobed and look a little like parsley. The upper leaves are finely dissected into linear segments and almost fernlike. The flowers are borne in small umbels, white or very pale pink, asymmetrical.

Fresh leaves (Cilantro) provide an exotic tang in Asian dishes. The dried seeds (Ketumbar) are used in curry powders, chutneys, confectionery, cakes and sauces.

Varieties: Makok, Tikal, Alano, Oxkutzcab, Hasya, Morena, Molix. Season: Sporadic throughout year, March - July. Sapodilla is well spread throughout the tropics. For centuries, It has been one of the most popular and most productive tropical fruit trees in the world, widely grown in India and Africa, West Indies, Philippines, Malaysia, Tropical America and Southern Florida.

Besides delicious fruit, the tree produces white, gummy latex that was an original source of chewing gum (chicle).

Sapodilla is a fairly slow-growing, long-lived medium-size tree, upright and elegant, dense and distinctly pyramidal, with thick glossy green leaves. Flowers are small and bell-like, borne on slender stalks at the leaf bases. The fruit has gray-brown rough textured skin and pinkish-brown, moist, soft and delicious flesh that tastes like a pear soaked in brown sugar. Each fruit has a few hard, black seeds that can be easily separated from the flesh. There is great variation in the size and form of the fruit, from almost round and large, to small and elongated. Numerous varieties and hybrids have been selected throughout the world. Sapodilla trees fruit prolifically, at frequent intervals throughout the year. In the tropics, some cultivars bear almost continuously. The fruits mature 4 to 6 months after flowering.

Most often eaten fresh. After the peel is removed, the fruit is sliced into pieces which are often carved into decorative shapes.

Sapodilla fruit is usually cut in half and the flesh is eaten with a spoon. It is an ideal dessert fruit as the skin, which is not eaten, remains firm enough to serve as a "shell". The flesh may be scooped out and added to fruit cups or salads. A dessert sauce is made by adding orange juice, and topping with whipped cream. Sapodilla flesh may also be blended into an egg custard mix before baking. The fruit is sometimes fried or stewed with lime juice or ginger. Mashed sapodilla pulp can be added to pancake batter and bread mix before baking. Cooking with sugar changes the brown color of the flesh to a pleasing red.

Sapodilla wine is also very good. Young leafy shoots are eaten raw or steamed with rice in Indonesia, after washing to eliminate the sticky sap.

A major by-product of the sapodilla tree is the gummy latex called "chicle", containing 15% rubber and 38% resin.

The plant grows naturally in the calcareous marl and disintegrated limestone, and is well adapted to Florida soils; it flourishes also in other types of soil, from deep, loose, organic soil, to loam, light clay, sand or even gravel, but requires excellent drainage. It is strong, wind-resistant, highly drought-resistant, and can stand salt spray. In India, brackish or saline water is sometimes used to reduce vegetative growth and promote fruiting. Commercially grove trees receive no watering, although irrigation in dry seasons will increase productivity.

Unlike most of tropical fruit, Sapodilla seeds remain viable for several years if kept dry. They germinate readily but growth is slow and the trees take 5 to 8 years to bear. Grafted trees start fruiting right away.

Sophora secundiflora (Texas Mountain-Laurel) is a large shrub or small tree native to Texas and northern Mexico. It can grow up to 5-10ft tall or 10-20ft as a tree. It is recommended to plant it in full sun or semi-shade areas, and needs moderate water. Sophora secundiflora blooms fragrant, violet, blue and lavender flowers from February to April. These flowers attract butterflies and hummingbirds. The seeds contain alkaloid cytisine, making them poisonous or toxic.

When taken care of properly, this plant can be cold hardy at least to temperatures in the upper 20s F for a short period of time. It is generally grown in USDA Zones 8-10. When grown in a pot, Sophora secundiflora should be in a well-drained, alkaline soil and be kept on the dry side, especially when blooming. Ethnomedical uses of the Sophora secundiflora include the treatment of digestive and respiratory complaints, colds, and rheumatism.

Highly versatile and will adapt to a variety of sun and soil conditions. The cabbage palm is a medium sized spineless, evergreen palm with an unbranching trunk and very large, fan-shaped leaves that form a circular crown. When the palm is young, the gray-brown trunk is rough and covered with the old boots of leaf stalks. These stalks fall away, revealing the trunk as it matures.

Clerodendrum inerme is a hardy shrub that can thrive in a variety of environments. In milder winters, they can be planted in the garden with no protection. However, for areas with harsher winters, it is recommended to plant the shrub in a pot and bring it indoors when temperatures drop below freezing.

When caring for clerodendrums, it is important to water the plant regularly, but only when the soil is dry. In spring and summer, fertilize the plant with a general purpose fertilizer and apply mulch to conserve moisture. This shrub is native to Tropical Asia. It is also an evergreen mangrove plant that can thrive near the ocean at the high tide mark, making it a potential weed in the coastal environment.

Clerodendrum inerme is a sun-loving plant that reaches a height of 10-15 ft with closely arranged, almost round, shiny, deep green leaves. The plant is always in flower, with white and fragrant flowers that have spreading five corolla lobes and long purple stamens. The stems of this plant are smooth and do not have thorns, hence the specific name inerme, which means thornless.

This plant is versatile and can be grown as a topiary or bonsai. It is also salt-, heat-, and wind-tolerant, making it well-suited for growth along the beach where it can tolerate the salt spray of the ocean and the harsh rays of the sun. It can be grown as a hedge, but a large number of well-developed plants are needed. Trimming the plant keeps the hedge in shape, but also robs the plant of its flowers as they are produced at the ends of branches.

Erythronium sibiricum (Siberian Fawn Lily) is a small, half-shade loving, bulbous perennial that is native to Mongolia and the Altai Mountains. In the right conditions, it can reach heights of about 2-5 feet and can be quite resilient. It features beautiful pink flowers that have a yellow throat, making it a very attractive addition to the garden.

In terms of care and maintenance, Erythronium sibiricum should be watered regularly, but not excessively. The plant thrives in moist soil, though if too much water is given, it can cause the roots to rot. If the soil is too dry, however, the leaves will start to droop. For the best results, water when the surface of the soil is slightly dry and only until the water starts to run off.

Erythronium sibiricum is a medicinal plant, and its root is often used in herbal medicine. It also attracts butterflies and hummingbirds to the garden. USDA zone 3-8 are recommended for optimum growth of the Erythronium sibiricum.

With its beauty, medicinal benefits and attraction of wildlife, there is much to love about the Erythronium sibiricum. For those who have access to the optimal growing conditions, it can provide a unique addition to the garden that can last for many years.

The extremely bright color make it easy to spot. Like most milkweeds the juice is milky white. Long bloom period from late spring throughout the summer. Flowers are a nectar source for many butterflies and leaves are a food source for monarch butterfly larvae (caterpillars). Drought-tolerant. Listed in the U. S. Pharmacopeia in the 19th century the root was once widely used for lung problems such as asthma and bronchitis. Contains cardiac glycosides which are toxic in large amounts.