Subtropical plant - Plant Encyclopedia Results

This small shrub, growing only 2-5 ft, does best in semi-shade and requires regular water. Moderate water from spring to autumn, being careful to avoid over-watering during the winter months. This cuckoo cactus will put out off-white, showy flowers and add colorful, ornamental foliage all year long.Grown in USDA Zone 9-11, Epiphyllum guatemalense Monstrosa Orchid Cactus is a great choice for adding horizontal interest to baskets and trellis, and even as a novelty plant in any garden or patio. However, if in colder regions and preferring to grow in a pot, precautions must be taken, such as bringing the pot indoors or insulating it in a shed or greenhouse. Growers must also take care with overwintering and observe the minimum cold hardiness to have successful blooms. When these criteria are met, Epiphyllum guatemalense Monstrosa will be a unique addition to any garden, patio, basket or wall.

Bananas are fast-growing herbaceous perennials arising from underground rhizomes. The fleshy stalks or pseudostems formed by upright concentric layers of leaf sheaths constitute the functional trunks. The true stem begins as an underground corm which grows upwards, pushing its way out through the center of the stalk 10-15 months after planting, eventually producing the terminal inflorescence which will later bear the fruit. Each stalk produces one huge flower cluster and then dies. New stalks then grow from the rhizome. Banana plants are extremely decorative, ranking next to palm trees for the tropical feeling they lend to the landscape. The banana inflorescence shooting out from the heart in the tip of the stem, is at first a large, long-oval, tapering, purple-clad bud. As it opens, the slim, nectar-rich, tubular, toothed, white flowers appear. They are clustered in whorled double rows along the the floral stalk, each cluster covered by a thick, waxy, hood like bract, purple outside and deep red within. The flowers occupying the first 5 - 15 rows are female. As the rachis of the inflorescence continues to elongate, sterile flowers with abortive male and female parts appear, followed by normal staminate ones with abortive ovaries. The two latter flower types eventually drop in most edible bananas. The ovaries contained in the first (female) flowers grow rapidly, developing parthenocarpically (without pollination) into clusters of fruits, called hands. The number of hands varies with the species and variety. The fruit (technically a berry) turns from deep green to yellow or red, and may range from 2-1/2 to 12 inches in length and 3/4 to 2 inches in width. The flesh, ivory-white to yellow or salmon-yellow, may be firm, astringent, even gummy with latex when unripe, turning tender and slippery, or soft and mellow or rather dry and mealy or starchy when ripe. The flavor may be mild and sweet or subacid with a distinct apple tone. The common cultivated types are generally seedless with just vestiges of ovules visible as brown specks. Occasionally, cross-pollination with wild types will result in a number of seeds in a normally seedless variety. Bananas require as much warmth as can be given them. Additional warmth can be given by planting next to a building. Planting next to cement or asphalt walks or driveways also helps. Wind protection is advisable, not for leaf protection as much as for protection of the plant after the banana stalk has appeared. During these last few months propping should be done to keep the plant from tipping or being blown over.

Musa Praying Hands - produces perhaps the most unusual and distinctive of all banana fruits. Two adjacent hands of bananas are fused, giving the appearance of praying hands. This is not just a collectors item, the fruits are delicious ripe, containing a hint of vanilla flavor. When totally ripe, individual bananas can be carefully separated from each other. An excellent all-around plant with some wind resistance; it is very collectible.

All eating bananas are triploid varieties of M. acuminata x bulbisiana.

There are numerous cultivars of Cooking banana.

Cultivated primarily for its vegetable seed fiber, the raw material for a large volume of textile products, this species is considered the most important of the cotton-yielding plants, providing the bulk of commercial cottons. Gossypium hirsutum includes a number of varieties or cross-bred cultivars with varying fiber lengths and tolerances to a number of growing conditions.

The Persian Walnut, also known as the English Walnut and Carpathian Walnut, is a majestic tree famous for its tasty and nutritious nuts. It's a valuable addition to gardens and orchards, offering shade, beautiful foliage, and a delicious harvest. With proper care, it can flourish for generations to come.

The Persian Walnut, known by different names like English Walnut and Carpathian Walnut, is a splendid tree with a rich history. It's famous for its tasty nuts, which are enjoyed worldwide. These trees are quite impressive, growing up to 50-100 feet tall with a sturdy trunk and a broad canopy of green leaves.

Leaves:

The leaves are large and pinnate, which means they have multiple leaflets arranged along a central stem. They're a vibrant green color and provide ample shade during the hot summer months.

Fruits:

The Persian Walnut tree produces delicious nuts, encased in a hard shell. These nuts are not only tasty but also packed with nutrients. They're used in baking, cooking, and as snacks.

Habitat:

You can find Persian Walnut trees in many parts of the world. They thrive in temperate climates with well-draining soil. These trees are often grown in orchards and home gardens.

Cultural Significance:

The Persian Walnut has been cultivated for centuries. It's prized for its wood, which is used in making fine furniture and cabinets. The nuts are also a symbol of health and wisdom in some cultures.

Care and Maintenance:

To grow a healthy Persian Walnut tree, make sure it gets plenty of sunlight and water. Pruning can help maintain its shape and encourage better fruit production. Protect it from pests and diseases for a bountiful harvest.

Fun Fact:

The word "walnut" comes from the Old English words "wealhhnutu," meaning "foreign nut." This reflects its ancient roots and widespread cultivation.

Ligustrum is a genus of about forty species of erect, deciduous or evergreen shrubs, sometimes forming small or medium-sized trees. Ligustrum Jack Frost is a very striking evergreen shrub that makes a wonderful hedge and looks equally as nice all by itself as an accent planting. Shiny, leathery green leaves have creamy white edges, providing an excellent contrast to any landscape. In late spring and early summer, it puts out clusters of small, white flowers very similar to those of its ancestor, the Japanese Privet. Following the spring bloom, berries persist through the summer and attract birds. Moderate growth, takes either full sun or part shade. A very versatile landscape plant for hedges, foundation plantings, topiary or screens. Hard to beat for adding form, adaptability and color contrast to the landscape. It is disease resistant and grows well in a wide variety of soil types and climates. With a full and upright form, it makes an ideal mid-size hedge but is extremely versatile and can also be planted by itself as an accent and foundation planting. Mature specimen tend to take on a more golden yellow color as the leaves mature. It adds bulk to the landscape when desired while adding great color to the landscape. Pruning is recommended 2-3 times per year to maintain desired shape.

Callicarpa sp. (Beautyberry) is a large shrub, usually growing 5-10 feet tall and wide. It is native to temperate and tropical regions, and its adaptability to various environments makes it a popular landscape plant. This deciduous plant produces clusters of small, star-shaped pink flowers in early summer, followed by eye-catching clusters of bright purple berries in the late fall and winter.

For best results, Beautyberry needs full sun or partial shade, and regular to moderate water. Given the right conditions, Beautyberry can offer a richly colored, lush presence to any garden. In cold regions, where this plant is not winter hardy, beautyberry can be grown in a pot and brought indoors during the coldest months.

In terms of temperature, Beautyberry is a surprisingly hardy plant for its size and delicate appearance. The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone for Beautyberry is 5-8. Despite its winter hardiness, Beautyberry may require protection from heavy winter rains and winds.

Empress Candle is a true garden wonder. Imagine a plant that grows fast, almost always has flowers, and covers large spaces with its lush leaves and beautiful blooms. Its huge leaves create nice cool shade for many feet around it which keeps weeds away. The plant grows up to 10 ft wide and 6-8 feet tall just in 1-2 seasons providing full sun and regular water.

The Empress Candle stands out for its rapid growth and non-stop blooming. Its green leaves shine in the sun, and its candle-like flowers add bursts of color and a sweet scent that bees and butterflies can't resist. The beauty of this plant also attracts hummingbirds and other pollinators.

What's truly special is how it turns your garden into a living masterpiece. It quickly spreads across the space, creating a vibrant picture of nature's beauty.

For any gardener, Senna alata is a must. It's like having a piece of nature's art that keeps shining and blooming, making your garden a breathtaking sight.

Senna alata is an ethnomedical plant, meaning it has many medicinal uses. In particular, the antibacterial and antifungal activities of the flowers have been used to treat tinea versicolor and ringworm infections.

Watch video about Empress Candle.

Paeonia delavayi mostly has red brown to yellow, nodding flowers.

Paeonia delavayi is variable in the number and shape of the leaflets and in the number, size, and color of all parts of the flower both within and between populations. Paeonia lutea, P. potaninii, and P. trollioides are all regarded as synonyms of P. delavayi. P. lutea var. ludlowii was shown to differ in a number of characters and is now named Paeonia ludlowii.

Coreopsis typically bloom bright yellow, daisy like flowers all summer and into the fall.

The fragrant flowers open purple, fade to lavender, then white. There are 42 known species of Brunfelsia ranging from shrubs to trees. Brunfelsia are in the Solanaceae, the family rich in alkaloids.

See article about Brunfelsias: Yesterday-Today-Tomorrow, Brunfelsia from Brazil.