TROPICAL LOOKING PLANTS - Other Than Palms

9,816 topics in this forum

1. 

   Experiences with the Backhousia?

   February 19 by Urkern

   • 0 replies
   • 88 views

   Hello, I know there are a lot of Australians reading this, so I thought my question was well placed. It's about three types: Backhousia myrtifolia Backhousia citriodora Backhousia angustifolia I have all three and am thinking about “experimenting”, perhaps with cuttings. But before I even put any further thought into it, does anyone know approximately how much they can withstand? Can they handle -10°C? Or rather -6°C? When do you get the first damage? Regards, Urkern

   

   Last reply by Urkern, February 19
3. 

   Too Much Sun!

   February 16 by Brian M

   • 1 follower
   • 4 replies
   • 260 views

   Need some suggestions for plant replacements. The flowerbed next to our pool has cordyline fruticosa and croton Petra planted throughout. The flowerbed gets 10+ hours of blazing hot sun in the summertime and both suffer leaf burns and look like crap until they recover when it colors down in the winter. Any one have suggestions for anything similar with color that can handle the heat in the warmer end of zone 9A? Would like to avoid anything that looks "weedy". There's lots of green already with liriope, a silver saw palm, and then ribbon palms anchoring either side of the bed, plus my neighbors unkept jungle on the other side of the fence. Thanks!

   

   Last reply by Calosphace, February 18
4. 

   Plant ID

   February 10 by thyerr01

   • 11 replies
   • 331 views

   Any idea what this is? Growing in central Houston, maybe reaching 3 m (18 ft) tall. It flowers every year in early Feb and has never been bothered by the serious freezes we've had the last few winters. It looks pretty boring the rest of the year.

   

   Last reply by Calosphace, February 18

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5. 

   Cactus ID

   February 18 by SEVA

   • 1 reply
   • 136 views

   Growing near the beach in Hampton, VA.

   

   Last reply by Silas_Sancona, February 18

   • opuntia
   • cactus
   • (and 1 more)

     Tagged with:

     • opuntia
     • cactus
     • virginia
6. 

   Thinning out over grown DYCKIA

   February 15 by Paradise Found

   • 1 follower
   • 1 reply
   • 178 views

   This is a nice 2gallon Dyckia cherry cola that is in desperate need of dividing or cutting back the inner tight Growth is all I am going to accomplish. heavy gloves and sharp paring knife 🔪 I carefully cut out all inner growth and suckers. before and after photos show the results. In another 2 years I will divide the 4 major plants into individual

   

   Last reply by redbeard917, February 18

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7. 

   Meryta sinclairii

   October 9, 2022 by Phil Petersen

   • 19 replies
   • 1.4k views

   I like this NZ native. Easy to grow and has huge glossy leaves similar to Ficus lyrata. Will get a photo when this latest leaf flush pops up.

   

   Last reply by Phil Petersen, February 17

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8. 

   Cocoa in SoCal?

   February 16 by rizla023

   • 1 follower
   • 7 replies
   • 249 views

   Just received some yellow cocoa seeds. Has anyone been successful with these? I’m in Santa Ana.

   

   Last reply by rizla023, February 17

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9. 

   Cactus ID

   February 14 by DTS

   • 1 follower
   • 3 replies
   • 161 views

   Can anyone id this spineless Opuntia I took a pad off of in Dallas, TX?

   

   Last reply by Manalto, February 16

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10. 

    Palmgrass - Setaria palmifolia?

    January 4 by fotodimatti

    • 4 replies
    • 294 views

    Hi there! I am a very happy owner of this palmgrass. See photos attached. Can anybody please verify whether this is Setaria palmifolia? Its a great indoor plant. Not suffering from dry heating in winter. It keeps growing and growing. Thanks, Matti

    

    Last reply by fotodimatti, February 16

    • palmgrass
    • setaria
    • (and 2 more)

      Tagged with:

      • palmgrass
      • setaria
      • potted
      • palmlike

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11. 

    Hoffmania ghiesbregtii 'Strawberry Splash'

    February 14 by metalfan

    • 2 replies
    • 203 views

    Recently got this plant and it's gorgeous. I've been growing H. refulgens for years, this one is super cool though B2FD7B5F-9A71-48A9-AF5F-5C8F1C9DA6C9.heic

    

    Last reply by metalfan, February 15
12. 

    Bradford pear replacement 1 2

    January 9 by ZPalms

    • 2 followers
    • 65 replies
    • 1.2k views

    I have two Bradford pear trees at the end of my yard, but I'm unsure about which species I could replace them with. I'm open to either native or non-native options. I've been thinking whether I'd prefer something with a tropical appearance, or if I should stick to a native species or try something different, like a fir if any can even grow, or maybe just throwing some palm trees. I'm looking for a tree that grows quickly, reaching a medium to large size quickly. I'd like to consider plants that I can pair with the new tree or grow under it. Since the entrances are on both sides, I've been thinking of something that can look really nice, maybe with ferns growin…

    

    Last reply by Silas_Sancona, February 15

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13. 

    Got a new Strelitzia

    February 12 by DTS

    • 1 follower
    • 2 replies
    • 215 views

    I got this small Strelitzia Reginae today. How long would it take until it gets large enough to flower?

    

    Last reply by peachy, February 14

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14. 

    Paulownia tomentosa

    February 11 by ZPalms

    • 1 follower
    • 18 replies
    • 561 views

    Been thinking of getting one of these but I don't like the idea of it setting seed after flowering and getting too tall to control and becoming invasive, has anyone pruned and kept one like a bush?

    

    Last reply by Manalto, February 14

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15. 

    Coffee Growing

    February 12 by Cindy Adair

    • 1 follower
    • 3 replies
    • 250 views

    Who grows Coffee? Anybody can as I grew it in pots in my living room in VA even before I had a greenhouse there. Now that I live in the mountains of PR of course I can grow it much more easily. The flower buds were likely triggered to bloom by the very unseasonable two days of lots of rain here. This plant is holding ripe red cherries and blossoms for the next crop. I have planted several Coffea arabica plants on some slopes plus a couple of Coffea robustas. I have seedlings to plant later, but I can buy inexpensive locally grown coffee from many places so processing is lower priority. In fact the last …

    

    Last reply by aabell, February 13

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16. 

    Buying plants again stangeria eriopsis

    February 12 by happypalms

    • 1 reply
    • 209 views

    At it again this time 3 stangeria eriopsis you don’t see them for sale very often in fact I have only seen them for sale twice only they will be group planted when they are ready so in the future some lucky gardener will realise why a group planting when I hope they set seed a very good rare find

    

    Last reply by hbernstein, February 12

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17. 

    Why cut spent banana trees?

    February 6 by ZPalms

    • 1 follower
    • 19 replies
    • 890 views

    I've been thinking about this for a while now and I've googled but nothing comes up and it's probably the obvious but why do we need to cut spent banana trees? do they just not grow anymore? I just want an explaination on why it needs to be done, one banana stalk from last year I haven't cut down yet and it's just sitting along with the others still solid.

    

    Last reply by Tracy, February 11

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18. 

    ID please. Small (herb)?

    February 11 by Stevetoad

    • 4 replies
    • 190 views

    Hey folks. I have this small plant that seems to have naturalized in my yard. It’s not a pest or anything and keeps to itself. It’s small leaved with a woody stem. The leaves when crushed have a light lemon scent. It stays small only growing to about knee high. I can’t seem to get a good id on it so I’m hoping someone here can help. I’m in San Diego CA. I’ve attached a few photos one with a bottle cap for scale. Thanks for any help.

    

    Last reply by Stevetoad, February 11
19. 

    Sadleria cyathoides

    February 11 by Darold Petty

    • 1 reply
    • 172 views

    I collected this fern from the Saddle Road above Hilo. No worries, as it was in the pavement edge zone where herbicide is regularly applied. I planted it in my garden twenty years ago. It has a trunk 75 inches tall and 6.2 inches diameter. ( 190 cm x 15.8 cm ). However, it is senescent and currently holds only two mediocre fronds. I plan to remove this fern and install a palm in the spot (big surprise !) I wish to salvage the secondary growth point, and seek advice about the best method to propagate this growth point back into a pot. I don't wish to save any of the original, large trunk. Thanks for your advice and comments !

    

    Last reply by Rivera, February 11

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20. 

    Pandanus Madagascar repotting

    February 11 by happypalms

    • 1 reply
    • 179 views

    This pandanus I purchased as Madagascar with no botanical name found for it being a dwarf form is all I know about it propagated easily by cuttings

    

    Last reply by tropicbreeze, February 11

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21. 

    What is going on what this Dyckia?

    January 17 by Palmfarmer

    • 1 follower
    • 11 replies
    • 390 views

    It has these spots all over. Is this sunburn or what?

    

    Last reply by Palmfarmer, February 11

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22. 

    Tropical-esque groundcover

    February 10 by Than

    • 1 follower
    • 18 replies
    • 305 views

    I am looking for a groundcover that can take 9b winters and will look kinda tropical to cover the corridor sides mainly. Something that will look like a phyllodendron burle marx for instance. Preferably something that won't grow high and will stay close to the ground. It will be the first layer, in front of taller bushes and plants to conceal the ground. Any ideas?

    

    Last reply by metalfan, February 10

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23. 

    Are these more rhipsalis

    February 8, 2019 by GDLWyverex

    • 1 follower
    • 3 replies
    • 948 views

    Also got these finely stemmed rhipsalis like plants. Are they also rhipslis of some sort or other? Thanks Richard

    

    Last reply by Hillizard, February 10

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24. 

    Lagerstroemia crepe mrtyle

    February 9 by happypalms

    • 1 reply
    • 141 views

    A beautiful tree with various colours of flowers available with striking colours in the trunk when the bark is peeling of very drought cold tolerant plant often seen in old gardens in my area medium sized trees you can completely cut it of at ground level and it will regrow even stronger easy to propagate from cuttings a must have for any garden position in a bright sunny spot well worth growing

    

    Last reply by Palmensammler, February 9

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25. 

    Dry garden after the storm

    February 8 by Peter

    • 4 replies
    • 239 views
    

    Last reply by Peter, February 9

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26. 

    What is this tropical looking plant?

    February 7 by BS Man about Palms

    • 1 follower
    • 4 replies
    • 258 views

    I have a large plant growing with a cycad in a pot on my deck. It has been here a bit and I thought was a weed. I have not pulled it out yet, but reduced it in size.. while doing that, I found I think another one growing in the wet muck below. Plenty with our recent storms. Is it a weed or some tropical thing that appeared?

    

    Last reply by BS Man about Palms, February 8

    • large leaves

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