TROPICAL LOOKING PLANTS - Other Than Palms

11,336 topics in this forum

1. 

   Advice wanted on pollinating encephalartos Ferox

   March 3 by happypalms

   • 6 replies
   • 224 views

   I need a bit of guidance from the cycas gurus in plant land. I know I have a female Ferox the larger plant in the first picture, and from a bit of horticulture knowledge I think I have a male plant. What iam asking is what are the signs iam looking for so I know when to collect the male pollen and how. Also what are the signs to look for with the female cone as to when to pollinate. Or can I just get a paint brush and go to town when it looks good, without any specific technique. The plants are both 30 years old and where supplied by Rolf kyburz of kyburz palms back in the day.

   

   Last reply by happypalms, March 6

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3. 

   Platyceriums ... another black hole

   November 10, 2025 by tinman10101

   • 1 follower
   • 13 replies
   • 562 views

   So I've been researching platyceriums for a couple of months and found some cool peeps on here @Billeb & Izzy that introduced me locally to these plants. With that being said, I live in crazy high desert that gets to 110F's in the Summer and routinely gets to the lower 30F's in the Winter. It has snowed her 3x since I have lived here and our relative humidity is always hovering in the 20-30%. Not the best climate to grow platyceriums and I highly envy all you guys that have coastal influence that can grow them outside. With that being said, I started to research on how to grow them indoors and surprisingly have been success so far ... fingers crossed in the la…

   

   Last reply by tinman10101, March 6

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4. 

   Camellia japonica blooms

   March 4 by Mazat

   • 0 replies
   • 105 views

   She blooms 🤗

   

   Last reply by Mazat, March 4

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5. 

   Finally planted my 25 year old dioon califanoi

   March 3 by happypalms

   • 1 reply
   • 139 views

   It’s amazing to have a plant for 25 years and you finally find that right spot in the garden for it. I still have empty places in my garden that I landscaped 30 years ago knowing I will have the right plant one day for that special spot. Slowly iam filling those gaps it seems iam in no hurry that’s for sure!

   

   Last reply by Dan64, March 3

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6. 

   Colocasias

   November 9, 2025 by JohnAndSancho

   • 35 replies
   • 929 views

   I dunno if this is heaven or hell, I guess it depends on how you look at it. I paid like 20 or 25 bucks for a pot with a big one and 6 pups at Lowes not even a month ago, and I figured that the big one could be ok in its 3g pot and the pups would all be ok in 1g pots until spring when I can sell them. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA HAHAHAHAHAHAHA HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA HAHAHAHAHAHA NOPE They're already throwing roots everywhere, despite the fact that they're all in transplant shock and dropping leaves like crazy. I was really hoping these would stay small enough to be shippable on the cheap. They're not even under good lights. I see why everyone has a love/hate rela…

   

   Last reply by JohnAndSancho, March 3

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7. 

   Wollemia nobilis

   December 21, 2006 by JakeK

   • 17 replies
   • 4.6k views

   Anybody else order a Wollemi Pine from NGS? Mine came in the mail today. It's a little one. Most of the branches are taller than the leader. I guess they were shipped while in dormancy because mine has the "polar caps" that form over the buds to protect them. Foliage reminds me more of a podocarpus than an Araucaria. Pictures soon!

   

   Last reply by BrianRBruning@gmail.com, March 3

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8. 

   Ficus in Hong Kong

   December 11, 2024 by miamicuse

   • 7 replies
   • 832 views

   Some of you have seen my threads where I shared my constant struggles with a giant Ficus benjamina next to my house. The struggles are on the surface, up in the air, and even down in the crawlspaces, including a monthly inspection of all my potted plants to ensure no ficus roots makes it up through the pots' drain holes, but this is not about that. This time I am a visitor, so a completely different perspective, because it's not my sidewalk, not my driveway and not my house foundation, I actually found it kind of "cool" 😁. I was recently in Hong Kong, and I have never seen so many Ficus trees, it's everywhere - along the streets, in the parks (tiny parks with h…

   

   Last reply by bubba, March 2

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9. 

   Gifted another batch of rare rainforest tree seeds

   March 1 by happypalms

   • 2 replies
   • 135 views

   Some very interesting and unique rainforest tree seeds in this batch. Rainforest seeds are new to me but some commonsense propagation techniques will be applied. Still learning about the process but it’s good to challenge the mind now and then. I seem to do ok with the palm seeds so it will be interesting to see how I go with this batch, either way it’s a good thing to learn!

   

   Last reply by happypalms, March 2

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10. 

    Plants in the far east

    March 2 by miamicuse

    • 0 replies
    • 94 views

    Just came back from a trip to the far east and saw a few interesting plants & landscaping related things I want to share. First of all, an interesting tree label of Liquidambar formosana in Suzhou, China. It contains of multiple pieces of bamboo planks and held around the trunk with springs. Next, in the city of Santou, China I saw this really interesting tree in the middle of a sidewalk, it has two trunks fused together, probably had some major trauma? The use of slices of cut tree trunks as stepping stones in a park is very interesting. In South Florida this may last a week before a rain storm and everything will just float away. …

    

    Last reply by miamicuse, March 2

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11. 

    Beaucarnea recurvata (Ponytail Palm) in trouble?

    August 1, 2025 by miamicuse

    • 39 replies
    • 1.3k views

    I have a Beaucarnea recurvata where the top new growth seems to be shooting out dry brown wilted leaves, here is an overall picture followed by some close ups. The wood fence behind is 6' tall to give an idea of scale. It has been in this spot for 4 years without any problems. lots of dryer brown growth up top. I pulled off most of the dry leaves. The growth tip is very dry and wilted. Is it rotting? Should I use some hydrogen peroxide on the top and see what happens? The base seems to be OK.

    

    Last reply by TropicsEnjoyer, March 2

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12. 

    The Shrubbery Thread 1 2

    March 5, 2023 by Merlyn

    • 3 followers
    • 60 replies
    • 3.7k views

    Well...how else do you start a thread on shrubberies? When I first started building my tropical forest, one of the first steps was to plant a perimeter of Viburnum Odoratissimum. I have about 350 feet of hedgeline, planted about 5 feet apart. That's a shocking $1000 worth of 3 gallon pots of Viburnum, and for the most part they've done a good job of filling in and blocking the neighbors and highway noise. The only problems in the past 3 or 4 years are: I've had a few random deaths of entire plants, which unfortunately leaves about a 5 foot gap in the hedge. It's relatively easy to cut them down and replant another, but the Armillaria Root Rot that ki…

    

    Last reply by Silas_Sancona, March 1

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13. 

    Pandanus vandermeeschii

    March 1 by happypalms

    • 0 replies
    • 92 views

    Pandanus are tough and this one is just as tough, enduring very dry conditions in times of drought. They add that tropical look in any situation, but you do need room to let them grow they are not a small plant when they start to mature. But very tolerant of sun and bright shade. Super tough easy to grow plant!

    

    Last reply by happypalms, March 1

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14. 

    Anyone growing zingiber mioga plants?

    February 21 by Zone7Bpalmguy

    • 2 replies
    • 181 views

    I first saw these on (I believe) Plant Delights Nursery site and I love the look of them but can't justify the money, especially shipping costs. Anyhoo, specifically, the varieties of dancing crane and white feathers look great. I would love to find one of these some day more locally. Anyone have any experience with them? They are also extremely hardy for such a cool looking variegated plant.

    

    Last reply by N8ALLRIGHT, March 1

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15. 

    happypalms So you want a bit of tropical colour 1 2 3 4

    October 28, 2025 by happypalms

    • 145 replies
    • 5k views

    A great medium paced growing tree for shade or canopy is the diospyros digyna, and either the added bonus of fruit that taste a bit like chocolate mouse dessert. A tough tree tolerant of dry conditions and cool wet conditions. A must have for the permaculture garden or any ornamental garden.

    

    Last reply by happypalms, February 27

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16. 

    Show us your tropical garden

    February 18 by PAPalmtrees

    • 2 replies
    • 260 views

    Hello Everyone i thought this would be a cool forum to start. I want everyone to show their best tropical garden pitcher of their garden or what their garden looks like right now. This is mine back in august

    

    Last reply by happypalms, February 27

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17. 

    Zamia inermis in the garden

    June 23, 2016 by Al in Kona

    • 12 replies
    • 3.8k views

    My Zamia inermis growing in the garden. It currently measures about 1.0m (3+ft.) tall and it is 2.0 m (6.5 ft) wide. It grows in a mostly full sun location and has never been fertilized or rarely given supplemental water.

    

    Last reply by Brian, February 23

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18. 

    Ravenala/Phenakospermum "Palms" in Oregon?

    February 21 by AFTER LYFE

    • 1 follower
    • 3 replies
    • 197 views

    Hello all, I've had a question for a while if Ravenala Palm's could grow in the Brookings/Harbor climate. From what I know, they grow in zones 10 and up, and are often grown near the equator. While Brookings is a 10a climate at most, I still don't know if Ravenala could handle it. I have been looking into Phenakospermum amazonicum as an alternative, but those seeds are harder to find.

    

    Last reply by mnorell, February 22

    • ravenala
    • oregon

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19. 

    My palm and neighbour

    February 20 by guidetta

    • 3 replies
    • 267 views

    Hi I have lived in my flat for over 20 years, my front garden has a palm. First my neighbour complained about falling fronds which I cleared up. Then it was blocking her window so on several occassions I cut it so she had a view, it cost me money I dont have They are selling and the buyers surveyors report said the following apparently and my neighbour wants me to kill it from the root. Well I dont want to kill my beautiful palm The following is an extract from the surveyor’s report:- The palm tree in the front garden is leaning / growing onto the front roof thus it is encouraging both mechanical damage and lifting of tiles and overloading of ti…

    

    Last reply by Merlyn, February 22

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20. 

    Orange Geiger - Cordia sebestena

    June 8, 2023 by aztropic

    • 30 replies
    • 3.1k views

    Flowering season just starting for my orange geiger tree growing in the Arizona desert. Wondering if anybody else grows these outside of Florida or Hawaii? Intense orange bloomer! aztropic Mesa, Arizona

    

    Last reply by Matt N- Dallas, February 20

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21. 

    Chop it up or let it ride?

    February 15 by JohnAndSancho

    • 10 replies
    • 299 views

    Welp I thought I had this thing sold. I snatched a couple with some minor cold damage and I'm rehabbing them - so just, opinions. This thing is currently in a 2 gallon pot and it's roughly 2 feet above the soil. I know these are in demand despite being available in big box stores - hell, I bought this in a big box store. Do I leave it as is and sell it for a premium price or do I carve it up? It's got lots of variegation. I chopped up it's Caucasian sister, they're doing really well and I chopped up a big fat Burle Marx and I've got at least 10 of those now and they're all healthy and some showing variegated leaves. I just don't know what t…

    

    Last reply by JohnAndSancho, February 18

    • philodendron
    • pink princess

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22. 

    Red Abyssinian new leaves are brown

    February 16 by Ashley S

    • 1 follower
    • 5 replies
    • 166 views

    Hi everyone, My Red Abyssinian that was once gorgeous is only putting out brown tipped leaves. Does this sound like underwatering? I've been watering it less since it started dipping below 40. I don't know how much to water since it's so cold.

    

    Last reply by Silas_Sancona, February 18

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23. 

    Aloe ID

    February 17 by Aloha Palms

    • 2 replies
    • 122 views

    Hello all, I’m looking to ID these two aloes. Both transplanted.

    

    Last reply by Aloha Palms, February 18

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24. 

    Fungi

    February 15 by miamicuse

    • 3 replies
    • 151 views

    Found this fungi in my back yard next to a yucca. No idea what it is, here is a picture with a shoe for scale.

    

    Last reply by JohnAndSancho, February 18
25. 

    Aloe 'Hercules' 1 2 3

    November 21, 2011 by MattyB

    • 2 followers
    • 109 replies
    • 25.4k views

    On Saturday, Paul, Bob and myself all piled in the new PRA Action Van and made a trip up to George Sparkman's place in Fallbrook. Paul took some pics of the PRA which I'm sure he'll share in a different thread, but here's some pics of the Aloe Hercules I got. I've read conflicting info regarding the parentage of this Aloe. It's a cross between A. bainesii and A. dicotima, but which one is the parent? I was going to put this up by the house in my new dry garden, but after George's advice, and doing some more research on the internet, I decided to put this monster a little farther down the hill. This tree aloe exhibits hybrid vigor and is expected to easily reach heig…

    

    Last reply by Silas_Sancona, February 17

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26. 

    Banksia questions…

    February 15 by Brad52

    • 6 replies
    • 213 views

    This one is perhaps 4-5 years from mail order, does it look like a happy banksia and how long generally b4 they flower?

    

    Last reply by Jonathan, February 17