Tropical's – are annual plants in our zone that thrive on very hot weather, they can last year round if brought indoors.

Agapanthus
Characteristics flowers bloom in large round clusters of umbels of blue, white or violet blue. Funnel shaped flowers grow at the end of a thick 2’-4’ tall stem. Blooms late spring to the beginning of autumn.
Light full sun
Moisture – well drained soils, normal watering
Great for containers, bring indoors over winter
 
Caladium bicolor
CharacteristicsColored leaves 12” in length and 6” wide, leaves form a clump. Dozens of variegated forms exist in shades of green, white, pinks and reds. Grows 1’-2’ tall, leaf apex points downwards, blooms till September.
Light part shade to part sun
Moisture – well drained moist soils, normal watering
Use in containers, beds and borders
 
Canna x generalis
Characteristicsfoliage is large tropical paddle like 18”-24” in length, produces 3” diameter flowers with layers of petals in many ranges of colors, height is 4’-7’ tall. Has 4 flowers per plant, blooms May until frost Varieties include ‘Bengal Tiger’, ‘Tropicana’ and ‘Premium’.
Lightfull sun to part shade
Moisture – moist to boggy soils, normal watering
Great for containers, store rhizome in cool place over winter
 
Colocasia esculanta – Elephant Ears
Characteristics large 3 pointed arrow or heart shaped leafs, pointing down 2’-3’ in length. Blooms May until frost, comes in a variety of colors some with multiple colors on one plant. Varieties include ‘Black Magic’ and ‘Illustris’.
Lightfull sun to part shade
Moisture – medium to wet soils, normal watering
Remove yellow older leaves, great for containers
 
Cordyline australis ‘Red Sensation’
Characteristics long tropical spear like upright leaves up to 36” in length, deep burgundy color. Bloom from May to late October.
Light full sun to part shade
Moisture – well drained soils, normal watering
Great for center of containers, and specimens
 
Hibiscus Rosa sinensis
Characteristics Flowers are glorious and huge up to 6" in diameter and occur in many colors. Most are flared and have a bell shape single or double, smooth or scalloped. Leaves are large, dark green, and shiny grows up to 15’ tall.
Lightfull sun to part shade
Moisture – well drained moist soil, normal watering
Use in containers, bring in over winter
 
Gardenia augusta
Characteristics dark to bright green, opposite leaves on a shrub that can grow 6’-8’ tall. Blooms mid-spring to early summer flowers are white, turning to creamy yellow and have a waxy feel, sweet fragrance.
Lightpart shade to full sun
Moisture – well drained moist soil, normal watering
Specimen shrub in container
 
Mandevilla x amoena
Characteristicsproduces non stop bounty of huge pink trumpet shaped flowers they have white and gold throats shown off against attractive evergreen foliage. It is a woody twine vine, blooms heaviest in summer.
Lightsun for best flowering, will take part shade
Moisture – well drained soil, can survive short droughts normal watering
Great for arbors and trellis’s as well as containers
 
Phormium tenax ‘Purpureum’– New Zealand Flax
Characteristicsbold clumps of long, bronzed purple colored, sword-shaped leaves. Blooms early May to end of October. Comes in ‘Variegated’ form as well, which have a creamy white margin on the edges of the blade.
Lightfull sun to partial shade
Moisture – well drained moist soil, normal watering
Great for pots and bedding
 
Strobilanthus dyerianus – Persian Shield
Characteristics variegated dark green and silvery-metallic purplish-pink leaves on top and all purple underneath, with serrated edges. Soft stems grow 3’-4’ tall.
Lightmorning full sun to afternoon partial shade
Moisture – rich well drained moist soil, normal watering
Great in containers, and beds
 
Tradescantia pallida - Purple Heart
Characteristics sprawling groundcover 3”-5” tall plant with succulent stems and pointed leaves. Surfaces of the leaves are a deep royal purple underside is an even more vivid violet. Three-petaled flowers emerge from curving double bracts at the stem tips. Blooms constantly during warm weather, but the flowers are open only in the morning.
Light full sun to part shade
Moisture – rich sandy soils, prefers ample water but is drought tolerant
Use in beds, rock gardens and containers
 
Tradescantia zebrina – Wandering Jew
Characteristics foliage creeps, sprawls and trails all over itself to make a dense groundcover. Intense violet color on the underside and striped with pale silvery turquoise and dark burgundy-tinged green on top, zebra like.
Light full shade to part shade
Moisture – moist well drained soil, normal watering
Use as groundcover, great in containers and hanging baskets

 

 

 
 
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