TROPICAL LOOKING PLANTS - Other Than Palms

9,819 topics in this forum

1. 

   Microzamia Communis sun requirements in TX

   April 7 by Keys6505

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   • 66 views

   I have a small 3g-ish Communis I bought from TCHP a few years back. I had read at one point that it wanted shade so that's where it's been for the last 3 or 4 years and it really hasn't grown much. I decided I want to try it out in ground so I started reading up again to figure out the best spot for it and this time I found sites that said full sun and others that say part sun. So now that I have the full gauntlet of conflicting information, I was hoping someone with experience could chime in. It will be planted in Houston so full sun doesn't always mean full sun here. Thanks

   

   Last reply by Keys6505, April 7
3. 

   Large tree ID requested

   April 7 by Zeeth

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   • 100 views

   A friend recently bought a large property in Mayyaka and we're trying to ID this tree planted around the perimeter of his property. These are large trees, about 40-50 feet overall. They have a reddish bark that is very soft and large, glossy leaves. What do you guys think?

   

   Last reply by Zeeth, April 7

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4. 

   20 YO Musa basjoo issues

   April 7 by Hardypalms

   • 1 follower
   • 0 replies
   • 53 views

   I have 4 Musa basoo. 2 are humongus, the other 2 are their 3 YO pups but big already. One in the back has been having 3-4 flowers yearly. I also have sikkimensis, ornata and itinerans. The basoos always come out first, this year the other 3 beat them. The huge one in the front should have 4 stalks 3 feet high by now and it has a 2 inch pup. Anyway you get the picture. 1) It’s not the cold, they have taken 15 for a week at times and down to 6 before. 2) 3 are far away in my backyard and 1 in the front yard. So it’s not a localized issue. I have not seen rodents or moles or animals. 3) The one in the front has 3-4 small mushroom…

   

   Last reply by Hardypalms, April 7
5. 

   Unsure on what these “Trees” are?

   April 3 by Dean the Gardener

   • 1 follower
   • 6 replies
   • 249 views

   Hi Guys, Having recently moved to a new home and inherited a garden wonder if anyone can help with some trees that we believe resemble a palm tree or sorts? could anyone help advise how we should maintain there shape - should I cut the arms (branches) short or off to help the tree continue to grow in better shape? The branches appear to just keep growing longer and wider without stability should o cut them back and encourage regrowth? thanks for any help !!

   

   Last reply by Merlyn, April 7

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6. 

   Browneopsis ucayalina tree

   September 25, 2010 by Cindy Adair

   • 1 follower
   • 25 replies
   • 6k views

   I've only seen this tree in Puerto Rico and those were grown from seed from Ecuador. Can this tree or its relatives grow in Florida , Hawaii, California, etc. I know Ari grows it, but am curious why I've don't recall seeing it at least in botanical gardens. Does anyone grow it inside/in a greenhouse or will it only grow in truly tropical areas? The two seeds I was given sprouted easily with the seedling shown in the photo from a seed planted in July. Has anyone tried cuttings? Perhaps I've seen it without knowing it as the mature leaves are a nondescript green.

   

   Last reply by Cindy Adair, April 7

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7. 

   Mucuna bennettii

   April 6 by metalfan

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   • 65 views

   Is anyone growing this anymore? You almost NEVER see anyone who actually has one, and never see them actually for sale.

   

   Last reply by metalfan, April 6
8. 

   Nolina longifolia first flower

   April 5 by akaranus

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   • 99 views

   Very fast grower, in just few yrs from small plant to first flowering..great specie for dry garden

   

   Last reply by akaranus, April 5

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9. 

   Which common houseplants are harder than stated/thought?

   April 4 by Urkern

   • 6 replies
   • 240 views

   Hello, Who doesn't know it: you go to the hardware store or a gardening store and there are all sorts of great things lined up inside that you almost always think can't withstand a single degree of frost. Then you are sad and ask yourself about winter-hardy replacement plants that sometimes fill the gap more, sometimes less. It rarely comes to the idea of simply planting out one of these plants and seeing whether it is really as tropical as it looks? In my hardware store you usually see candidates like Dieffenbachia, Alocasia, Caryota, Yucca elephantipes/gigantea, Dracaena reflexa, fragrans, Livistonia, Clivia, Chlorophytum, spathiphyllum, Anthurium, Ficus …

   

   Last reply by metalfan, April 5

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10. 

    Schismatoglottis

    April 4 by happypalms

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    • 100 views

    One very cute plant that is very temperamental it has died back every winter and it keeps on growing in spring so a deciduous plant in my climate it loves the cool wet humid area in my greenhouse I would like to bring it inside this winter not sure what the actual variety is all I know is it’s very temperamental and a challenge to grow

    

    Last reply by happypalms, April 4
11. 

    Spathodea cuttings

    November 6, 2023 by Matt in OC

    • 1 follower
    • 5 replies
    • 206 views

    Has anyone grown Spathodea from branch cuttings? Any tips?

    

    Last reply by Matt in OC, April 4

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12. 

    Philodendrons 1 2 3

    August 19, 2022 by piping plovers

    • 3 followers
    • 118 replies
    • 4.4k views

    I have not found a thread on here for philodendrons (or aroids other than anthuriums) so am adding this post. I’ve been reading that Philodendron patriciae is one of the most attractive “strap leaf” philodendrons. Not sure if considered a strap leaf but the mature specimens remind me of my favorite strap leaf anthuriums. I got one from ecuagenera USA. My first order from their US location and I like that they ship in pot; not bare root. Process orders in 48 hrs. Very good price for the size they shipped.

    

    Last reply by metalfan, April 3

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13. 

    Dragon Blood Trees on Socotra, Dracaena cinnabari

    March 27 by JohnInBhutan

    • 7 replies
    • 310 views

    I've been visiting Socotra Island over the past few years, and while there are many Phoenix dactilifera and a few Cocos nucifera, the star plant of Socotra is Dracaena cinnabari, the dragon blood tree. In my opinion it's the most dramatic and beautiful of the Dracaena (I have seen D. ombet in Ethiopia and D. draco from Canary Islands). On Socotra these grow in vast forests, in some places as far as they eye can see. They are at risk, with climate change, Socotra is drier and seedlings have difficult time getting established and by the many goats which eat seedlings. Goats probably the bigger problem. There is local man who is growing in nursery and planting the small plan…

    

    Last reply by JohnInBhutan, April 2

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14. 

    Plants in flowers

    April 1 by PaPalmTrees

    • 0 replies
    • 75 views

    here's some of my plants that are in flower in my garden right now please feel free to share some of your plants in flower I would love to see them

    

    Last reply by PaPalmTrees, April 1

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15. 

    Pandanus vandermeeschii

    April 1 by happypalms

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    • 100 views

    One tough pandanus the vandermeeschii I have about 30 large specimens around my garden drought tolerant fire tolerance they have caught on fire previously while back burning my property and they absolutely explode in flames once alight so not recommended for planting around the house in fire prone areas but they lived only to recover even stronger they certainly do make a large display in the garden given enough room to grow in an open space

    

    Last reply by happypalms, April 1

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16. 

    Repotting my browneopsis disepala

    April 1 by happypalms

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    • 74 views

    Purchased this browneopsis last autumn so it was time to repot before it gets to cold it will get planted in the garden once it has developed enough roots for the container it’s in

    

    Last reply by happypalms, April 1

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17. 

    Picking some pineapples 🍍

    April 1 by happypalms

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    • 74 views

    Pineapple season certainly one bromeliad I don’t mind growing I just have to beat the possums to pick them before they eat them

    

    Last reply by happypalms, April 1

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18. 

    How did it come back

    August 10, 2023 by BigBilly

    • 1 follower
    • 13 replies
    • 450 views

    So last August of last year I bought a Mandevilla vine from lowes last year and it came back this year. I'm super confused about how it came considering it was 5F last winter and I threw a pot full of mulch over it. It's about 19" from a south-facing wall. but it's rated 10A? I'm wondering if anyone in 7B or colder experienced this and how can i make it come back again next year.

    

    Last reply by BigBilly, March 31

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19. 

    cactus Cactus id

    March 31 by shark

    • 2 replies
    • 124 views

    Can someone give me the name of this cactus?

    

    Last reply by shark, March 31

    • cactus id
    • plant

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20. 

    Blue Flag Stone

    March 29 by Paradise Found

    • 1 follower
    • 8 replies
    • 256 views

    This has to be the brightest flag stone I have ever seen it may be wet to bring out the color. Photo is from landscaper Laura Eubanks Design for Serenity in sunny San Diego.

    

    Last reply by Silas_Sancona, March 31

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21. 

    Lubber grasshoppers in Florida - I found a solution!

    March 14, 2023 by Merlyn

    • 1 follower
    • 22 replies
    • 7.4k views

    I thought this would be the most appropriate spot for this thread, since lubbers rarely seem to eat palms in my yard. They love Crinum Lilies, Canna Lilies, and occasionally eat bananas, agaves, and a few other random plants. But the big plant on the dinner menu is always the Crinum Lily. I've tried for years to get rid of them, but every spring hundreds more hatch in my yard and start new colonies. My attempts in the past have been mechanical (i.e stomping them, grabbing them with gloves and smashing them on the concrete and then stomping on them, whacking them with sticks, throwing small rocks at them, cutting down trees to fall on them, etc), and chemical (Malathio…

    

    Last reply by Merlyn, March 30

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22. 

    Two great Australian native trees to plant

    March 30 by happypalms

    • 2 replies
    • 105 views

    Two must have Australian trees for your garden are the dorrigo Waratah alloxylon pinnatum and the Atherton oak Athertonia diversifolia both spectacular in flower so these ones will make a great addition to the garden my only wish is that I should have planted them 20 years ago like the old saying goes when is the best time to plant a tree well 20 years ago I guess so my gardening advice to any new gardener is start planting for the future now

    

    Last reply by happypalms, March 30

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23. 

    What to do with a Pentagonia? Other than stare awestruck?

    March 18, 2014 by Justin

    • 1 follower
    • 19 replies
    • 2.3k views

    While perusing the Hilo Home Depot garden section after some exciting time deciding between glues and combination locks, I stumbled upon an impressive plant labeled simply "Pentagonium." There is zilch on the internet about Pentagonium. I then made an educated guess that what was meant by Pentagonia, and I'm 99% sure I am correct about that, but there's remarkably little info about Pentagonia either. This link from several years ago has the most info I've found, which is to say, literally something. http://www.palmtalk.org/forum/index.php?/topic/39231-ree-gardens-uncovering-the-legend/ Here's the photo from that post, for those people not wanting to scour the l…

    

    Last reply by Dypsisdean, March 30

    • Giant leaves
    • deep veining
    • (and 2 more)

      Tagged with:

      • Giant leaves
      • deep veining
      • red underside
      • no reliable web info

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24. 

    Planting my begonia plum paisley

    March 30 by happypalms

    • 0 replies
    • 47 views

    I Propagated this begonia from a leaf cutting a winner in any little place where it can be viewed by a pathway

    

    Last reply by happypalms, March 30
25. 

    Weeping Yaupon Holly

    March 28 by Manalto

    • 3 replies
    • 166 views

    In flagrant violation of the topic heading, I've decided to post blooms of my weeping yaupon holly, Ilex vomitoria var. pendula. Nothing tropical whatsoever (Zone 7-9), but impressive in the abundance of bloom. It's covered. Later in the season, the plant will be covered, once again, in bright red berries that appear clear as glass, then one day during the winter (if you're lucky) you'll see cedar waxwings swarm the plant and strip it clean, feasting on those glass berries. [Standard poodle chomping on deflated basketball for scale.]

    

    Last reply by happypalms, March 30

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26. 

    Cactus ID

    March 29 by DTS

    • 1 follower
    • 1 reply
    • 63 views

    Can someone ID this cactus? Thanks!

    

    Last reply by John2468, March 29