Search results: ocimum

One of the most desirable symbols of Tropics, Alpinia purpurata, red ginger, also called ostrich plume and pink cone ginger, are native Malaysian plants with showy flowers on long brightly colored red bracts. They look like the bloom, but the true flower is the small white flower on top. Red Ginger grows in Hawaii, and many Central American nations, including Belize. It is also found in Samoa, where it is the national flower, and is locally called "teuila." It prefers partial shade and moist humid conditions, although it can tolerate full sun in some climates. It tends to like to be well watered and not left to dry out. Ginger can also be grown as a houseplant and its cut flowers can be used in arrangements.
See Article about this plant.

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

Aster Tree, Snow Bush, White Cloud Tree. This unique plant is the only tree in Asteraceae family. The persistent white pappus of the infructescences remains showy for months after the plants stop blooming. The plant looks like a white cloud or covered with snow. Winter bloomer. Unusual shape leaves 1-2" wide. Can be grown as a large bush, trained into a small standard tree, or kept in a pot. Very hardy plant, tolerates drought and poor soils, and some freeze.

A showy ornamental Banana with dark red leaves. Huge, tropical, ruby red leaves splashed with bright lime green, each offering a unique pattern of colors. Young plants start out more green and color intensifies with sun exposure. Thrives in hot, humid areas. Perfect for poolside plantings as a backdrop to smaller tropical plants. Stunning in large patio containers. A frost-tender perennial.
See photos of leaves:
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See Article about Red leaf Banana.

Loose clusters of pale pink flowers with golden blotch bloom on wiry stems. Broadly ribbed, iris-like leaves. Hardy and easy to grow!
Bletilla striata Yokohama is a lovely, hardy ground orchid native to East Asia. A cross of Bletilla striata Big Bob x Bletilla formosana. Bletilla Kate makes a typical clump of upright, sword-like, pleated, green leaves. Starting in late spring, terminal spikes reach 40" tall with an open cluster of medium lavender flowers, each highlighted by a dark purple stripe down the back center of each petal and a very dark purple lip surrounding a yellow throat. It is a relatively chardy orchid, in cooler climates leaves turn yellow in the fall before they die back for the winter.
Grows almost anywhere but prefers a rich, well-drained soil with adequate moisture. Water during growing season.


See video about Ground Orchids.

This Pigeon Pea variety called Fuerte (meaning "strong"), was brought to Florida by a family from Holguin, Cuba, several decades ago. There, it is considered to be be the finest of many cultivars which are widely cultivated.
True to its name, it is the largest, strongest, most long lived, and most productive variety we have trialed. Also, it regularly produces pods with more and larger beans than any other. This is a vastly improved variety, and likely one of the documented polyploid cultivars. Highly recommended!
Pigeon Pea is popular food in developing tropical countries. Nutritious and wholesome, the green seeds (and pods) serve as a vegetable. Pigeon Pea is hardy, widely adaptable, and more tolerant of drought and high temperatures than most other crops.
See Article about this plant: Cajanus cajan - Pigeon Pea. The plant that saw paws of the newborn Great Sphinx....

Dwarf Bottlebrush, Popular plant in dwarf version. Good for container growing or small garden. Small shrub 2-3 ft tall with showy bright red flowers during spring-summer. Drought tolerant once established.
See Article about this plant.
Learn more: How to grow Bottle brush trees.

Camphor Tree, Camphor Laurel. This is the aromatic tree from which camphor was derived (used in medicines and mothballs). Camphor trees are densely covered with shiny oval and elliptical leaves, up to 5 inches long.
Branches and leaves are used for aromatic medicinal sauna.