INDOOR PLANTS

Orange Bird of Paradise. One of the most well-known plants in the world. The fascinating blooms are sold as cut flowers by the million. The most tropical-looking!

The young leaves on Syngonium White Butterfly are green with white veins. At maturity, the leaf becomes about 80% white with a green border. It is a prolific grower, will vine in long days and if not grown in enough light. White Butterfly is the standard by which all other Syngoniums are measured.

Kings mantle - perfect ever-blooming hedge. Bushy dense fast growing shrub. Blue flowers resembling morning glory. Several of the best-known Thunbergia species are climbers, but this native of tropical Africa is a sprawling shrub, very useful in mixed beds or as a low hedge. It has attractive, small, dark green leaves and tubular flowers which in the most common form are rich purple with a yellow throat. Responds well to regular pruning and can be shaped into a very bushy shrub, though this inhibits blooming. It prefers full sun and well-drained soil but will bloom in partial shade.

Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla Bean, French Vanilla, Vanilla Orchid. Make your own vanilla! Fast growing, providing right conditions for orchids. Bright filtered light, high humidity.
Watch video: How to produce my own Vanilla? Secrets of Vanilla pollination.

Vanilla Tahitensis is a cross between Vanilla planifolia and Vanilla odorata. These vanilla beans are generally shorter, however they contain a much higher oil and water content than Vanilla planifolia.
Fast growing, providing right conditions for orchids. Bright filtered light, high humidity.
Vanilla Bean, French Vanilla, Vanilla Orchid. Make your own vanilla!
Watch video: How to produce my own Vanilla? Secrets of Vanilla pollination.

Very rare, collectible species! This plant propagated at TopTropicals nursery from Robert Riefer's unique specimen, the biggest potted specimen in the World grown in 100 gal pot, originated in 1927, awarded in 2011 with CHM certificate of Horticultural Merit by American Orchid Society. Leafless Vanilla Orchid is amazing exotic vanilla that forms a multi-branched, leafless vine reaching lengths up to 15 ft. The light green flowers are similar to Vanilla barbellata but the petals and sepals are longer and the fluted lip is a deep reddish-purple with a yellow crest. Vanilla dilloniana is distributed throughout the West Indies and had been reported on the banks of the Miami River in South Florida.
Vanilla dilloniana is a very rare species and considered vulnerable, endangered across its range. Pieces of plants from the original colony have been shared and may be found in local collections.
See the Video of the original specimen.

Wrightia religiosa - Sacred Buddhist, Water Jasmine, or Wondrous Wrightia - is one of Thailand's most treasured fragrant tropical plants. This elegant flowering shrub produces masses of delicate white pendant flowers with an enchanting fruity-jasmine fragrance that can perfume an entire patio or garden. Blooming almost year round in warm climates, it is widely planted near temples and homes throughout Southeast Asia and is considered sacred in Buddhist culture. The single-flowered form is more vigorous and easier to grow than the double varieties, with graceful twiggy branching that also makes it an outstanding bonsai subject. Prefers well-draining soil, regular watering, and partial to full sun. May become deciduous in cooler winter weather below 65F but quickly returns with warmth.

Variegated Sacred Buddhist - veriegated semi-dwarf variety of wrightia, it is one of the most beautiful, exciting and useful plants among fragrant tropicals. A very fragrant, enchanting shrub, flowers are fruity scented, pendant, are born along its twiggy branches. See picture of bonsai.May drop leaves in winter.

Showy Zephyrlily, Fairy Lily, Rain Lily, Magic Lily... These spectacular rain lilies bloom often a few days after rainstorms thus one of the common names, Rain Lily. They are found in the coastal prairies and wet roadsides of eastern Texas and Gulf Coast Louisiana. The leaves grow through the winter and spring and die off in summer; flowering occurs in autumn. The vigorously multiplying clumps flower for us from late summer into fall.
Few flowers create as much surprise and delight as a rain lily. Zephyranthes Lucky All Over produces cheerful bright pink, crocus-like blooms that seem to appear almost overnight, often just days after a summer rain shower or a thorough watering. One day the garden is green, and the next it's dotted with vibrant pink flowers.
This charming perennial bulb forms clumps of slender, grass-like foliage that remain attractive throughout the growing season. The flowers rise above the foliage on short stems, creating a natural, carefree display that looks beautiful in garden beds, borders, rock gardens, and containers.
A reliable bloomer, Lucky All Over flowers repeatedly from spring through summer, often responding to changes in moisture and weather conditions. As the bulbs mature, they multiply readily, creating larger and more impressive drifts of color each year.
Growing about 8 inches tall, this compact plant is easy to fit into almost any garden space. It performs best in full sun to partial shade and prefers well-drained soil. Once established, it is remarkably drought tolerant while also adapting well to regular garden irrigation.
Cold hardy in USDA Zones 7b-10b, Zephyranthes Lucky All Over returns year after year with minimal care. In colder climates, the bulbs can be grown in containers and protected from hard freezes during winter.
Easy to grow, long-lived, and full of surprises, this delightful rain lily brings bursts of color to the garden whenever nature decides it's time to bloom.
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.

Barleria oenotheroides is a broadleaf evergreen perennial shrub with dark green, tropical looking foliage. In summer showy yellow flowers emerge and may cover the whole plant. Attracts bees, butterflies and hummingbirds making it an excellent addition to pollinator gardens. Grows well in both shade or sun and regular water. Does well in average, rich and well-drained soil. A good option if you're seeking something heat tolerant and humidity tolerant.

Dwarf variety of Yesterday-Today-and-Tomorrow. Very compact bushy shrub, 2-3 ft tall. The fragrant flowers open purple, fade to lavender, then white. Very rare brunfelsia, collectable item.
See article about Brunfelsias: Yesterday-Today-Tomorrow, Brunfelsia from Brazil.

This plant is a great container/house plant and perfect fragrant colorful flower for shade garden!
This evergreen shrub is slow growing and has a dwarf compact habit. In bloom it is very dramatic: abundant fragrant flowers open rich purple and fade to mauve and white over a few days, all through spring and early summer.
See article about Brunfelsias: Yesterday-Today-Tomorrow, Brunfelsia from Brazil.

Rare and hard to find species, with the largest wavy shaped flowers, Brunfelsia plicata (jamaicensis) is a fast-growing, small, erect, delightfully fragrant flowering shrub endemic to Jamaica. The sturdy, dark green leaves make a good background for the showy flowers. The creamy white flowers with long tubes and wavy margins are extremely fragrant after dark. Blooms fall to winter. It's a specimen plant. Perfect houseplant for a bright window.

Velvet Furry. A favorite of landscapers, this thin fuzzy rippled leaf Calathea is very attractive as well as durable. A purple leaf back adds to this plants rich color and texture.
The upper foliage of Calathea rufibarba is semi-glossy, and olive green in color. The under side of the foliage, along with the stems are rich burgundy in color. The stems are covered with fine purplish-brown hairs. Place your Calathea rufibarba in bright filtered or indirect light.
See Article - How to grow Calathea indoors.

Calathea Dottie has vivid pink markings with an entire and wavy margin. The leaf surfaces are colored very dark black-green and its midrib beautifully marked with a distinctive bright pink that also encircles the leaf about 0.5-1" from the margin. These beautiful markings remain vivid pink even as the plant matures. Newly emerged leaves are slightly lighter in color. Leaves underside is purple. Dottie has the characteristic feature of folding up their leaves at dusk to dawn by means of the tiny geniculum, an angular knee-like joint connecting it to the petiole, resembling hands put together in prayer, hence the other common name, Prayer Plant. And, in the morning the leaves will return to normal position, that is, almost perpendicular to the petioles. The plant does occasionally produce purple and white flowers. Perfect small accent plant for shade tropical gardens or as a houseplant.

Calliandra riparia, Calliandra schultzei, Dwarf Powderpuff - great for bonsai. See picture of the 3 y.o. bonsai. If grown without training, the plant will make a nice bushy little tree.
A dwarf variety, perfect houseplant, good for bonsai. Beautiful oriental looking plant.
Fluffy, pink "powderpuff" flowers that attract hummingbirds and butterflies.
Grows as a small, bushy shrub in pots but can develop into a larger, bushy tree when planted in the ground.
Thrives in full sun to partial shade and becomes drought-tolerant once established.

Wiri Wiri Pepper. A variety from Guyana, the Wiri Wiri pepper is the illustrious gem; hard sought and rarely found. This plant produces good yields of small 1/2" berry shaped hot peppers. Peppers grow upright, are very hot, and turn from green, to orange, to red when mature.
What makes it so much different than any other hot pepper grown in the garden or bought at the store?
Hot? Yes, it is important that hot peppers are, but the people who really know, know that it is not just about heat, it is about flavor! And that is exactly what makes this little red gem so special. Guyanese dinners will only take one of those meals for you to never forget! The secret of their food is the flavor, and one of the cornerstone ingredients in many of their dishes is the Wiri pepper. The Guyanese population claim that it is not just a key ingredient to their diet, but also to why they are so good looking, live so long, and have such great skin.

Chains of Glory, Light Bulb Flower. This elegant plant is a rare species in plant collections. The white fragrant flowers are held in loose pendulous panicles, similar to Bridal Veil (Clerodendrum wallichii). The white flowers are very showy against dark green foliage. Flowering racemes hang down a foot and a half or more. Winter bloomer. It often has two flowering periods during the winter season.

Java Glorybower, Mary Jane. Large velvety leaves and the large quantity of red-flower clusters. It is an important medicinal plant in China. Beautiful red flowers, a marvelous ornamental plant for the garden.

The name refers to the colorful raspberry colored stem, but that's not the only colorful thing about this Spiraling Ginger. The leaves are dark green, long and glossy with velvety deep purple undersides. The inflorescence is a vivid red with tight bracts and bold yellow flowers. The butterflies love to drink the nectar from the flowers. This is a large vigorous ginger, growing up to 5-6 ft tall.

Peacock Fern is a rare collectible, valued for its habit of producing bulbils along its fronds which then develop into cute young plants right on the stem! Lush, green fern that thrives in the moist, shaded understory of forests. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food.

Beautiful lavender flowers with white and golden lip.
Epidendrum is a diverse neotropical genus that has flowers characterized by a frilly or fringed lip. This feature is occasionally diagnostic to distinguish between species. These orchids are widely cultivated and may be hybridized with Sophronitis, another South American genus. The flowers are usually small and delicately colored, and borne on a dense inflorescence. Many species have a fragrance.
See video about Ground Orchids.

Vietnamese Gardenia - large fragrant flowers. Easy to grow to compare with other gardenias, not so sensitive to overwatering and the most cold hardy of all tropical gardenias. Flowers are very beautiful unusual shape, extremely fragrant. Perfect for container, very bushy. Can be also planted in the ground. This pretty plant has been called "Gardenia" for long time. However, analysis shows that it is a horticultural form of Kailarsenia.
See article about this plant.