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.

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 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.

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.

An unusual variety of Copper plant with curled and sometimes twisted deep copper-red foliage. The edges of the leaves are very serrated giving the foliage somewhat of a lacy effect. This variety is also a little more restrained in growth habit. Beautifully colored foliage lends itself to tropical landscapes while its heat and sun tolerance make it suitable for even some of the most difficult areas so long as its basic requirements are met. Foliage color is often most intense where they get at least 6 hours of direct sun per day. Provide your Copper Plants with average water in an average to well draining moderately rich soil for best results.

A very colorful tropical shrub grown for its attractive green/white veriegated leaves. 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.

Louisiana Red Copper Leaf has bright combination of red, burgundy, pink, colors. Copper Leaf is a very colorful tropical shrub grown for its attractive leaves. 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.

Acanthus montanus, also known as African mountain acanthus, False Thistle, Bear's breech, Mountain Thistle, and Alligator Plant, is a thinly branched unusual perennial with interesting foliage, basal clusters of oblong to lance-shaped glossy, dark green leaves reaching up to 12 inches long. The leaves have silver marks and wavy margins. It produces showy pink flowers in the summer to fall. It is said it is cold hardy to zone 9. The plant looks better in filtered light.
See picture of alligator skin.

Chinese Perfume Plant, Chinese Rice Flower, Mock Lemon - the fragrance is outstanding! The plant is slow growing, big size of the plant is hard to find.
See Article about this plant.

Very attractive ever-blooming shrub with bright yellow trumpet-like flowers. Nice blooming hedge plant. Relatively hardy and easy to grow.

NEW! This new hybrid between A. cathartica and A. violacea (bush and vine Allamanda) has amazing features: it is a compact bush that produces maroon-red blooms all year. Favorite wine-red flowers now are not only on a vining Allamanda, but also on a small bush! Spectacular flowering plant, great as a gift, as well as specimen container plant.

Blue Hibiscus. Bright blue to purplish flowers. Drought tolerant, heat resistant plant.
See Article about this plant.

Yellow Aphelandra. Yellow flowers emerge out of long orange stalks in the fall time. Pretty and unusual! A tall, shrubby perennial with very long terminal inflorescences that are very unique and showy, with yellow flowers protruding from orange calyces in succession over many days. Grows nicely in full sun in south Florida, but it will also tolerate quite shady conditions.

Aphelandra scabra (panamensis). This is a new introduction, quite unique flowering plant from S America. Like all aphelandras, it has showy flowers that are loved by hummingbirds. The flowers of this variety are bright pink, up to 2 inch long, and tubular. They are 2-lipped, fuzzy and they bloom for one day before wilting. The A. scabra inflorescence is candle-like and the prepubescent flower spikes can grow up to 6 inch in height. The inflorescence has overlapping green bracts that are tinged with yellow and orange and they have extrafloral nectaries. Each day only one or two flowers open along the inflorescence to prevent self-pollination.
It is a great addition to a collectible tropical butterfly garden. Can grow into 4-5" tall bushy specimen. Blooms sporadically during warm season. Tolerates both full sun or filtered light.

Panama Queen - a very rare plant with extremely tropical look, fragrant flowers of unusual color combination: orange and pink.

This is a rare hybrid possibly with A. scabra (panamensis) that has bright red flowers, quite unique flowering plant from S America. Like all aphelandras, it has showy flowers that are loved by hummingbirds. The flower up to 2 inch long, tubular. They are 2-lipped, fuzzy and they bloom for one day before wilting. Inflorescence is candle-like and the prepubescent flower spikes can grow up to 6 inch in height. The inflorescence has overlapping green bracts that are tinged with yellow and orange and they have extrafloral nectaries. Each day only one or two flowers open along the inflorescence to prevent self-pollination.
It is a great addition to a collectible tropical butterfly garden. Can grow into 4-5" tall bushy specimen. Blooms sporadically during warm season. Tolerates both full sun or filtered light.

Ornamental leathery leaves and pretty pink flowers. Small size bush, this plant is very easy to grow, great for beginners as well as indoor culture. It takes low light with no problem, and needs very little if any care. Ardisias are very popular house plants.

Marmelada, Ornamental Alibertia. Great choice for those who need to add a short and yet impressive shrub into landscape. The plant stays 2-3 ft tall, easy to prune if needed, with beautiful "shooting" white flowers, slightly fragrant. Very nice landscape exotic shrub for small spaces.
It prefers filtered light and can tolerate shade - this is a great choice of flowering showy plant for shaded areas!