A: Why settle for ordinary when your garden can
be extraordinary? Here are five fabulous flowering shrubs that will set your
landscape apart. Whether you're dealing with sizzling sun or cool shade, these
beauties will add color, character, and charm year-round. Let's dive in!
1. Lobster Claw - Simply Spectacular!
Heliconia
rostrata - Lobster Claw. This exotic plant makes a bold statement with its
parrot-like blooms. The colorful, dangling flowers last long and are perfect for
bouquets. Growing up to 7 feet tall, it thrives in large pots or tropical
landscapes, handling temperatures in the high 20s. Just give it room to stretch
those stalks!
2. Bat Head Lily - Perfect for Shade
Tacca
chantrieri - Bat Head Lily, Black Tacca. Looking for something mysterious? This
plant's dark, bat-shaped flowers and trailing "whiskers" will intrigue everyone.
It prefers filtered light and high humidity, making it a great pick for
shaded areas or a greenhouse. Available in striking colors like black, white, and
green, it's a conversation starter in any garden.
3. Ball of Fire - Made for the Sun
Combretum
constrictum from Thailand, called Ball of Fire - is one of our favorite tropical
flowering shrubs that is constantly in bloom and is so much different from
anythings else. With constant blooms and fiery red flowers, this tropical
shrub shines bright. Though it might fool you from a distance as a Powderpuff
plant, it's a whole different species! It can be shaped into a small tree,
handles pruning well, and attracts butterflies and hummingbirds. Easy to grow, it
only needs regular water to get established.
4. Blue Sage - the Bluest in the Tropics
Eranthemum
pulchellum - Blue Sage, or Lead Flower. This winter heavy bloomer thrives in
shady spots with its vibrant gentian-blue flowers, a rare color in the tropics.
It's compact, easygoing, and the more you prune it, the bushier it gets.
When other plants are napping, Blue Sage adds a splash of cool blue, making it
perfect for carefree gardeners who want a touch of magic.
5. Candelabra Plant - Massive Gold
Senna alata -
Empress Candle, Candelabra Plant - is a fast-growing shrub that brings
sunny, candle-like flowers and massive leaves to your garden. It's a weed-fighting
hero, shading out invaders with its wide canopy. Butterflies and bees love
its golden blooms, and the plant can grow 10 feet wide in just one season! If
you want beauty and function, the Candelabra Plant is your golden ticket.
Watch the video about Candelabra Plant
.