Seaside, salt tolerant plant - Plant Encyclopedia Results

It is a spreading small shrub that ranges in height from two to five feet tall, with sprawling stems. The dark green leaves are small with an aromatic scent, and alternately arranged on the stems.

In full sun, Sida fallax produces a profusion of beautiful, buttercup-like, yellow and orange flowers that bloom all year round and attract local bees, butterflies and many other pollinators. Flowers have five petals and are generally smaller than the diameter of a dime. The plant is well adapted to dry conditions and will thrive without supplemental irrigation, and can even tolerate occasional inundation in the wild. Further, it performs well in seaside conditions and is fairly salt tolerant.

Sida fallax is an ethnomedical plant that is used in a variety of ways by people. The leaves are used for natural medicinal purposes and for making aromatic garlands for ceremonial occasions. It can be found planted in many gardens in tropical and semi-tropical regions of the world. Its home range includes Hawaii, but is also found throughout the Pacific Islands.

In cooler climates, where temperatures dip below 30 degrees Fahrenheit, Sida fallax may be grown as an annual, or grown in a pot and brought indoors before frost. When grown in USDA Zones 9-11 or indoors, best growth is achieved with deep watering and a fertile soil with added organic nutrients such as compost or manure. In warm regions, where temperatures remain mild year round, Sida fallax should be planted in well-drained soil and watered only sparingly when in dry periods. This plant does well in full sun and will flower profusely in the warm months. If planted in beds, allow ten to twelve inches of unplanted space in all directions from the center of the plant. Mulching around the planted area can also conserve water and keep weeds to a minimum.

Thick stemmed tropical liana with large shiny leaves and large bell shaped golden yellow flowers. The thick and woody ropelike stems branch frequently and root at their nodes, and can run for more than 200', clinging with aerial rootlets and scrambling over everything in the way. The evergreen leaves are leathery, about 6" long and elliptic, with prominent lighter colored midribs and lateral veins. The flowers are truly spectacular, shaped like a chalice, 6-10" long, flaring open to 4-7" across. The five lobes of the corolla are reflexed, and each lobe is marked with a narrow purplish brown ridge on the inside. The flowers start out yellow and turn deeper golden as they age. They are fragrant, especially at night, with a scent reminiscent of coconut. Cup of gold blooms intermittently through the year, but mainly in the winter dry season. The fruits, rarely seen in cultivation, are round berries, about 2" in diameter. There are eight species of chalice vines, and they often are confused in the trade.Other species occur in the West Indies.

The 6-8 inch flowers are chalice shaped. They have a yellow corolla , with 5 purple lines. They bloom usually from February until May. Solandra maxima is the most common species in cultivation and vines offered as S. guttata and S. grandiflora may in fact be this one. The differences are subtle.

You can plant container plants at any time, but October is ideal, since it is a time of rapid growth. Plant near a wall, and water well. Use a slow release fertilizer in the fall.Cup of gold is a fast growing vine that thrives in most any well-drained soil. It tolerates severe pruning and blooms on new growth, so it can be cut back at any time of year. This is a heavy vine, and it requires a very sturdy support. Let the vine grow for a while, producing vigorous new shoots, then withhold water until the leaves begin to wilt. Hardiness: USDA Zones 10 - 11. Propagation: Cup of gold usually is propagated from stem cuttings taken in summer and rooted with bottom heat. Usage Cup of gold is often grown on large pergolas or trellises, or trained to grow up the side of a house where the spectacular flowers can spill down the walls over windows and doorways. Tolerant of salt spray and salty soils, all the chalice vines are excellent for seaside gardens. This is a large, rampant grower which requires plenty of space and a strong support. The chalice vines are related to the angel trumpets (Datura spp. and Brugmansia spp.), and like them, have hallucinogenic properties. They are used in sacred ceremonies in Mexico.

Poisonous Part: Leaves and flowers.

When it is grown in an open area where it can spread, the Moreton Bay Fig may become as much as 150 feet wide; but crowded in its natural forest habitat--or near buildings in an urban setting--it tends to grow tall and narrow. The small dry fruits of the Moreton Bay Fig, like those of other figs; are actually composed of hundreds of tiny flowers completely enclosed within the inverted fleshy tissue of the receptacle upon which they rest. A tiny hole (called an ostiole) in the tip of the fruit allows minute symbiotic wasps, which pollinate and lay their eggs within the flowers, to enter and leave the structure.

Parkinsonia aculeata (Jerusalem Thorn) is a fast-growing deciduous shrub or small tree native to the West Indies and South America. It forms a graceful, airy canopy with long, arching branches lined with delicate bipinnately compound leaves, creating a fine-textured, feathery look. Bright yellow flowers with orange-tinged throats appear in late spring and summer, attracting pollinators with their vibrant color and light fragrance.

This drought-tolerant species thrives in full sun and poor, dry soils, making it ideal for xeriscaping or arid gardens. It can reach 15 to 20 feet tall and often develops a weeping habit. Spiny branches provide some protection from browsing animals. The plant is hardy to around 15°F and may survive even lower temperatures with protection, especially in dry winter climates.

Parkinsonia aculeata can be grown in large containers when young but is best suited to open ground in warm regions. It is not considered edible and should be handled with care due to its sharp thorns. Its graceful appearance and ability to thrive in difficult conditions make it a valuable addition to dry landscape designs.

Growing to a height of about 4-5ft, this succulent plant is a member of the same family as Plumeria. Its swollen, often twisted trunk, is pale grey. The leaves are glossy, and club-shaped. The flowers appear almost continuously, are trumpet-shaped and range from white and bright pink to crimson, red. It exudes a highly toxic sap, which in some places is used as a poison for arrows. Adeniums are not generally grown in moist tropical gardens but are often seen as a decorative pot plants. They may also be used in rock gardens.They need full sun and a well-drained potting mixture. Exotic multi-color varieties can be grafted onto the same plant. See other exotic species of Adenium, photo gallery of exotic varieties and Thai Adeniums - milti-colored, multi-grafted.

See article about Adenium.

The Japanese Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) is an evergreen vine or creeper, and it is native to Japan. This plant is best grown in full sun to semi-shade, and it will tolerate moderate watering. It has white to off-white flowers that can be tinged with yellow or orange, and they are very fragrant, making this a popular choice for attracting butterflies and hummingbirds. This vine can become invasive, so it's best to practice regular pruning. The mature plant is cold-hardy and can handle temperatures of at mid 20s degrees Fahrenheit for a short time. This honeysuckle is also tolerant of seaside and salt, and it is most often grown in USDA Hardiness Zones 8-10.

If you're growing the Japanese Honeysuckle in a pot in colder regions, it's important to choose a larger container to give the roots plenty of room for growth. Make sure you select a well-draining potting soil and that you relocate the pot to a sheltered spot in the winter months. Ensure the pot doesn't freeze by covering it with a cloth or plastic, and move it back outside once the winter weather has passed. Pay attention to the soil moisture levels, and water when the topsoil is dry. If you have a warmer climate, you can let the soil dry out between waterings, but don't allow the plant to suffer from drought stress. Enjoy the sights, smells, and sounds that this plant will bring to your garden.

Peltophorum africanum (African Wattle) is a native plant to South Africa and is widely known for its ethnomedical properties. It is a fast-growing small to medium-size semi-deciduous to deciduous tree that reaches heights of 10-20 ft with a spreading crown and bark that is smooth and grey on the young branches. The leaves are compound, bipinnate, with 4-7 pairs of pinnae bearing up to 23 pairs of feathery leaflets. They are oblong in shape, have a dull green top side and a pale green underside, and the apex is rounded with a fine, hairlike tip. The flowers are bright yellow and crinkled, about 5 inches in diameter and hang in dense clusters. They attract butterflies and hummingbirds. The tree is tolerant of seaside conditions and salt, and it's grown in USDA Zones 9-11. It is also a great tree for bonsai, as it develops an adult shape and thick corky bark in just 2-4 years, with leaves that are much reduced.

When growing Peltophorum africanum, it should be planted in a well-drained soil in full sun or semi-shade. It needs moderate water and is frost-resistant and drought-tolerant. When grown as a bonsai tree or for shade protection, it needs protection for the first 2-3 years and should be watered during dry spells. In cold regions, it can be grown in pots and needs frost protection, regular watering, good drainage, and should be placed in a sunny location. It also likes to have its roots shaded from direct sunlight.

It is a well-behaved, tough shrub that can be maintained at less than 10 feet high. Creamy flowers produce a bouquet worthy of the attention of the esteemed parfumiers of Europe. Fruits develop slowly over the course of one year, not seven. They turn brown when ripe. Birds are avid consumers of the fruit. The plant originates from coastal uplands. It has high salt- and drought-tolerance. A must in designs in coastal locations, it can be used with confidence in sunny, well-drained spots inland as well. Use it as an accent piece in a prominent spot, or as part of screening.

Osbornia octodonta is a useful tree to grow for coastal protection.

A truly unique variety, Miss Alice is almost totally thorn less and displays massive clusters of huge white bracts. When in full bloom, it is a real showstopper. A slow growth rate, heavy flowering habit and an extremely low thorn count make Miss Alice a winner. It flowers year around and is much more tolerant of wet, summer conditions than other varieties. See article about Bougainvillea.