Garden Blog - Top Tropicals

What is the best plant for a butterfly garden

Panama Rose - Rondeletia leucophylla

What is the best plant for a butterfly garden

If you're looking to add a splash of color and attract fluttering butterflies, the Panama Rose (Rondeletia leucophylla) is a must-have for your butterfly garden.
This stunning shrub, reaching up to 5 feet, is a true butterfly magnet with its bright pink, star-shaped flowers that bloom in clusters.
Why every gardener wants Panama rose for their butterfly garden? The sweet nectar from these flowers draws in butterflies, making it the perfect addition for a garden that thrives on natural pollinators.
Panama Rose has an enchanting fragrance that becomes more noticeable after sunset.
Native to Mexico, it’s ideal for USDA Zones 9-11, though with the right care, it can thrive in colder regions too.
This easy-care shrub thrives in full sun with regular watering and can tolerate occasional flooding. It maintains a natural, bushy shape and blooms cheerful, cup-shaped flowers from November to early summer, with sporadic blooms throughout the year.

Thunbergia erecta Lavender Ice - Lavender Lace

☂️ What to plant in a shady spot? Unusual variegated flowers of Lavender Ice!

💜 Thunbergia erecta Lavender Ice, or Lavender Lace, is a unique, rare variety of King's Mantle with stunning lavender-off-white variegated flowers.
💜 Unlike many variegated plants, this one is vigorous and easy to grow. It can be used as a showy garden specimen or a low-growing hedge, and it responds well to pruning, which encourages more blooms.
💜 This plant thrives in filtered light and will grow larger, darker leaves in shade. It reaches a height of 5-7 feet and has a dense habit, making it perfect for creating a hedge.
💜 Lavender Ice attracts butterflies and hummingbirds with its profusion of flowers
💜 For healthy growth, keep the soil consistently moist, but not soggy, and mulch around the base to retain moisture. If growing in a pot, frequent watering is key.
💜 It's hardy enough to withstand temperatures as low as 30F for short periods. Ideal for USDA Zones 9-11, this plant can also be grown in pots in colder climates.

Cassia occidentalis - Coffee Senna, Fedegoso, Privet Cassia

☀️ Why all Floridians want Coffee Senna in their landscape and what it has to do with Coffee

🌼 Beauty without the hassle! Cassia occidentalis, commonly known as Coffee Senna, Fedegoso, or Privet Cassia, offers striking beauty and practical benefits, making it an excellent choice for low-maintenance landscapes and herbal medicinal garden.
🌼 From spring to fall, this medium-sized shrub showcases clusters of orange-yellow flowers that look like little yellow hummingbirds from the distance and attract butterflies and bees. The large, red-veined leaves add ornamental value even when not in bloom.
🌼 Coffee Senna thrives in full sun to partial shade and is drought- and cold-tolerant once established. Requires minimal care, making it ideal for gardeners seeking beauty without the hassle. Its spreading habit can provide a natural hedge or privacy screen.
🌼 Coffee Senna gets its common name from the resemblance of its seeds to coffee beans. The seeds are dark and oval-shaped, much like coffee beans. Despite the name, the seeds are not related to the actual coffee plant (Coffea arabica). The "Senna" part of its name refers to its botanical Senna genus, which includes various species traditionally used for medicinal purposes.
🌼 Health Benefits of Coffee Senna

Beyond its ornamental appeal, Coffee Senna has a history in traditional medicine:

✔️Digestive Aid: The seeds have mild laxative properties, aiding in constipation relief.
✔️Respiratory Support: Infusions of the root and dried flowers are used to treat gastrointestinal issues, colds, and flu .
✔️Skin Health: Poultices made from the roots and flowers are applied to treat skin disorders such as eczema .
✔️Nutritional Value: The seeds are rich in iron and other minerals, contributing to overall health .

Clerodendrum bungei - Glory Bower, Cashmere bouquet

💐 How to get a large, lush and fragrant bush in no time

💐 Looking for a fragrant, fast-growing shrub that adds beauty and privacy to your garden? Clerodendrum bungei - Glory Bower, Cashmere bouquet - is an excellent choice.

Key Benefits:

💐 Fragrant Blooms: Enjoy clusters of sweetly scented, pink flowers that attract butterflies and other pollinators. They open in terminal panicles up to six inches across.
💐 Versatile Growth: Dark green leaves often tinged purple are up to 8 inches long. This plant can be grown as a compact shrub or allowed to spread. This plant is incredibly vigorous and fast-growing, spreading quickly through root suckers. If you don’t want it to take over your yard in just one season, make sure to plant it in a contained corner or a container.
💐 Hardy and Resilient: Cashmere Bouquet is hardy to USDA Zones 8-10 and can tolerate light freezes, rejuvenating each spring.
💐 Low Maintenance: It thrives in full sun to part shade and is drought-tolerant once established. Keep the soil moist during the growing season. Regular pruning helps maintain its shape and encourages more blooms.