Auntie Lilli's South Sea Salad Tree, known by the Latin name of Abelmoschus manihot, isn't a tree at all. It is in the botanical family Malvaceae, same as okra and the woody-stemmed hibiscus. It may have the growth of a shrubby tree due to its tropical nature, as it is native to tropical portions of Asia and also northern Queensland and can grow up to 9 feet tall when given the right conditions.
The South Sea Salad Tree has been a traditional green vegetable in Fiji for some time. It is grown as an tender ornamental perennial in Hardiness Zones 8-10. It does have a beautiful flower, but lesser known is the fact that both its flowers and leaves are delicious as well as nutritious! The laves are high in Vitamins A and C and Iron, and have 12% protein by dry weight. Leaves and flowers can be eaten raw in salads, and the leaves can also be lightly cooked similarly to spinach. Delicious, nutritious and a beautiful flower - talk about a perfect edible plant for tropical/subtropical landscapes and temperate annual gardens and patios.

Okra, Bamia, Gombo. Beautiful, pale-yellow flowers. The pods and leaves are edible, and young pods can be used in stir-fry and soups either blanched or pickled. When cooked it resembles asparagus, yet it may be left raw and served in a cold salad.

Professional quality (nursery-grade) potting mix with perfect drainage characteristics, specially created for Top Tropicals by soil professionals using our custom formula. Ideal mix for any tropical plants.
Organically derived soil-less mix free of any additives. Ingredients: peat moss, coconut coir, perlite, pine bark (soil conditioner), wetting agent.
See Info sheet about growing media (2 pages) and more information on soil mixes.

Professional quality (nursery-grade) potting mix with perfect drainage characteristics, specially created for Top Tropicals by soil professionals using our custom formula. Ideal mix for any tropical plants.
Organically derived soil-less mix free of any additives. Ingredients: peat moss, coconut coir, perlite, pine bark (soil conditioner), wetting agent.
See Info sheet about growing media (2 pages) and more information on soil mixes.

Professional quality (nursery-grade) potting mix with perfect drainage characteristics, specially created for Top Tropicals by soil professionals using our custom formula. Ideal mix for any tropical plants.
Organically derived soil-less mix free of any additives. Ingredients: peat moss, coconut coir, perlite, pine bark (soil conditioner), wetting agent.
See Info sheet about growing media (2 pages) and more information on soil mixes.

Canary Tree. Sometimes listed as Bakeridesia integerrima, Canary Tree is a showy and handsome small tree growing about 10 ft tall, with evergreen, broadly heart-shaped leaves. They are pubescent with stellate hairs and are rough to the touch on the upper surface. The flowers are 2-3" across and resemble those of a hibiscus. The five petals are bright yellow, each with a reddish blotch at the base. It is an excellent tree for container culture or for a small garden, doing best with full sun and good drainage. It has a long winter span, and blooms are attractive to bees and butterflies.

Also known as A. x hybridum Fireball, and Abutilon Biltmore Ballgown, this is one of the many lovely hybrids between A. darwinii and A. striatum, with maple-like leaves and bell-flowers whose petals are recurved, turning in slightly at the bottom. Flowers are fiery red, as one would imagine, with prominent red veins accenting the surface. Happy plants can reach 8-10 ft tall, though pruning easily adjusts the size. Best with plentiful summer water and fertilizer. Less hardy than many, preferring temperatures that only occasionally drop into the 20s F, USDA zone 9. Placement out of wind with overhead protection and plentiful mulch help in less than balmy climates.

Fast growing but rather compact shrub with velvety leaves and stems. Bright yellow flowers. Ethnomedical plant. Easy to grow and not picky about conditions. Full sun and regular water is all it needs.

Brazilian Bell-flower is a fun and easy-to-grow hummingbird magnet for the perennial border. In the garden or in a hanging container, it spreads to several feet wide in a single season. In the wild, Abutilon megapotamicum reaches 8' tall, but in cultivation arely exceeds 5' tall, and less when grown as a potted plant. During warm months, the plants are laden with cool 2" hanging lantern-like flowers composed of red calyces above the yellow petals, ending with its bright red privates dangling beneath... all carefully arranged between the thumb-sized green leaves.

Abutilon pictum is a fast-growing tropical flowering shrub is prized for its speckled, maple-shaped leaves and showy, coral-orange flowers. A beautiful accent or border shrub in frost-free areas, with an upright form that is easily espaliered against a wall. A showy container accent in bright patio or indoor locations, fun and easy-to-grow hummingbird magnet for the perennial border.
Thompsonii is a showy variety with golden leaf variegation and peach colored flowers with red veins. Great container specimen.

A. baileyana is used in Europe in the cut flower industry as "Mimosa" for a traditional Woman's day, given to all women. Heavy bloomer with fragrant yellow flowers and long curved pods. This plant is adaptable and easy to grow. Hardy to 34F. Height up to 28'. Can be grown in containers.
Soak seeds overnight in hot water. Cover seeds with 3/8" well-drained soil mix, keep warm, damp and in bright light. Can be slow to germinate.

The acacia catechu, or cutch, tree is a large, thorny tree with flowering bark and seeds that are often used for herbal medication. The acacia catechu is indigenous to India, China and other parts of Asia. The bark from the acacia catechu is used for dying material, fishing nets and leather tanning. The drug catechu is prepared from A. catechu.

Silver Wattle, Blue Wattle. Native to Australia, Acacia dealbata is widely cultivated as an ornamental plant in warm temperate regions of the world. The flowers and tip shoots are harvested for use as cut flowers, when it is known by florist trade as "Mimosa". In Italy, Albania, Russia and Georgia the flowers are also frequently given to women on International Womens Day. The essence of the flowers, called 'cassie' or 'opopanax', is used in perfumes. The leaves are sometimes used in Indian chutney. This plant has gained the Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit.
Soak seeds overnight in hot water. Cover seeds with 3/8" well-drained soil mix, keep warm, damp and in bright light. Can be slow to germinate.

Black Wattle. Tradicional Mimosa plant for Women's day in Europe. Acacia decurrens is a tall shrub or small tree with bipinnate foliage. The dark green foliage contrasts with the bright yellow spring flowers. Plant after soaking in warm water until swollen.

Sweet Mimosa. One of the most useful tropical plants that is very cold tolerant, blooms all winter through spring with honey-fragrant flowers - canary yellow powder puffs, attracting bees and butterflies. This is a large size, multi-stem thorny shrub 15x15 ft that requires some space. It is very fast growing, can be used as a good screen plant. It will bring you joy with pretty flowers and sweet fragrance even during freeze snaps when other trees lose leaves and suffer. This one will continue blooming and stays evergreen - a real survivor! Tolerates poor soils and drought too. Provide regular water to establish quicker.

This is one of South Africa's most beautiful and useful trees. It is integrally part of Africa's history having been used for everything from raft-making to sewing needles and fencing for the houses of the royal Zulu women. The thorns were even used by early naturalists to pin the insects they collected!
Bark used in tanning, rope making and production of edible gum. The root is used in traditional medicine.

Fever tree is an attractive, semi-deciduous to deciduous tree. The characteristic, almost luminous, lime green to greenish-yellow bark is smooth, slightly flaking, and coated in a yellow powdery substance. If the powdery surface is rubbed away with the finger it will reveal a green bark beneath. It has a slender to spreading, sparse, roundish crown of feathery foliage. The thorns are long, straight and paired. This species occurs in groups in low-lying swampy areas. Because its range coincides with regions where malaria is prevalent, it is called "Fever Tree."

A very colorful tropical shrub grown for its attractive reddish leaves. Beautiful foliage of mixed shades of red, yellow and green. Leaves, much smaller than ordinary copperleafs, are orange/red in the full sun and mostly variegated/green in the shade. The more sun the more color the leaves will get. Fast growing. A native of the East Indies and the Pacific, this is one of the most striking foliage shrubs and is widely used by tropical gardeners.

Cat tail, Chenille plant - very popular everbloomer with long red cat tails - pendulous flowers. Large, fast growing full shrub.

Extremely rare cultivar of Cat Tail with white flowers. A real beauty!

New hybrid of Copper Leaf with amazing rainbow of colors - bright red-orange-yellow-peach-green. This shrub provides year-round color in your landscaping in full sun location. The more sun, the brighter the color. In shade leaves may turn pale and green.

Dwarf Cat Tails, Kitten's Tail, Trailing Acalypha. A spectacular plant for a hanging basket, container or ground cover. Foxtail-shaped bright red flowers year around!

Copper Leaf - is a very colorful tropical shrub grown for its attractive reddish leaves. This variety has beautiful foliage of mixed shades of red, yellow and green. The more sun, the more colorful the leaves will get. It is very fast growing. This is one of the most striking foliage shrubs and is widely used by tropical gardeners.